"The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds" will be the perfect book for you if you love cozy, sweet, magical stories.

I did have a hard time connecting with Josephine's character, which lessened my overall enjoyment of the book. The setting was also excessively described for my personal taste. There are a lot of vivid descriptions of the 1920's home and lifestyle, which was interesting, but slowed down the pacing of the plot considerably.

Overall, despite my personal preferences not aligning, I do think this will be a five star read for specific readers- those who love cozy, feel good, descriptive books,

Josephine is completely lost when her doctor husband suddenly passes away. She never finished college, she's always worked in his office, her only friends were their friends and kind of lost herself in their 15 year marriage. In her grief she starts to wish she had never been born. Her grandmother's house is now back on the market and at the suggestion of her sister, she buys it. Her childhood memories flood back from time with her grandmother and in restoring it back to the original era she is able to find the original door at a salvage shop. It is no ordinary door -- it transports her back to the 20's and discovers that her wish of never being born is starting to come true as things disappear around her and her life starts to vanish unless she can keep traveling back and reverse the spell and save her great grandmother and her own future -- that is if she still wants to! Delightful story of dual timelines, 20's era history and rediscovering yourself.

Thank you to Harper Collins Focus and NetGalley for the ARC!

Josephine Reynolds, recently widowed, is starting anew in her great grandmother’s home, the Carter Mansion, in Nashville. At only thirty-five, she isn’t sure how to move forward. She has lived her whole adult life for her deceased husband working for his practice and hosting parties for his career. Now, at her sister’s urging, she is trying to figure out what exactly she wants for her own future.

As she works to restore the Carter Mansion to its former glory, she miraculously finds the original door at a salvage yard. When it’s finally rehung, she discovers the words “among the whispering and the stars” carved on the door, and a time slip passageway to the 1920s.

Josephine works through her grief and figuring out her future while visiting her great grandmother in the past. This hybrid historical fiction/magical realism novel is a sweet story about family connection and healing. This cozy read has a somewhat predictable ending, but sometimes it’s exactly what we need.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins, and of course the author Jennifer Moorman for the advanced copy of the book. The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds is out on January 14th. All opinions are my own.

When I read the synopsis of The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds, I knew I had to read it. Josephine is lost - her husband has passed away very unexpectedly and she never built any kind of life for herself without him so she doesn't know who she is anymore. When a chance to own the historic house her great-grandmother owned comes up, Josephine jumps at the chance. She somehow unlocks a magical portal that brings her back in time to the 1920's when her great-grandmother ran a speakeasy.

I loved the premise of this book, but ultimately struggled with the story. It felt like there were too many plot holes and I didn't particularly care for the characters. The story was just a little flat and simplistic.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy.

This novel is as magical as the title sounds and lives up to being another excellent, enchanting Jennifer Moorman novel. Completely atmospheric and hopeful, you'll lose yourself in this story. Can we start a petition for a short story to pick up where the novel leaves off? I'd love to see how Moorman would continue to explore the next chapter in Josephine's life!

What a fabulous book; so well written! With the author's descriptions of life in the Roaring Twenties, I was ready to go back and enjoy the parties, preferably wearing the red or the purple dress. :)

So many dual-timeline books are badly written and readers give up because it's difficult to keep the timelines straight. This book manages the timelines masterfully. Recently widowed Josephine has bought her ancestral home and once she re-installs the original door, she walks through it into 1927. She meets her great grandmother Alma and becomes close to her...and learns, once she's back in the present day, that Alma was killed in a raid on her speakeasy several days after she met her. Can Josephine change the past? Because if she can't...no Josephine in the future.

If I could give this book 10 stars, I would!

Josephine Reynolds grief was so bad she was barely living. Her husband Nathan had died, and Josephine felt her life had no purpose. One desperate day she wished she had never been born. That’s when her life changed.

Josephine’s sister Katherine tried to help with Josephine’s grief but had no success, until she discovered that their great grandmother’s house was for sale. A house that Josephine had very fond memories of happier times many years ago.

Josephine buys the house and moves in. Josephine gradually feels she has purpose and something to live for as she rediscovers family heirlooms that have been in storage for many years and moves them back to her great grandmother’s house.

Josephine starts to become herself again and enjoy her life, but it all starts to unravel when she replaces her front door. One day when she opens the door she magically steps back in time to 1927.

This was about families, grief and identity. I loved the descriptions of Josephine’s great grandmother’s house.

Lots of twists and turns as Josephine travels between the present time and 1927.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Harper Muse for a chance to read this E-Book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This absorbing book was right up my alley. Kind of a time/portal/travel story which is both unbelievable and totally believable. It was a relatively clean read with not much mention of faith but did have a side character who was cheating on her spouse. It was also set in the Roaring Twenties so an illegal speakeasy was depicted.
The main character, Josephine, was a widow who purchased her great grandmother Alma’s mansion and found herself transported to 1927. After recurring forays into the past, she discovers something that may change her present. She has days to stop an event that could end her great grandmother’s life in the past and thus her own life.
What I liked about this book, besides the unique way Josephine traveled back to the past,was the relationship that she forges with Alma and Danny. And that Josephine moved forward from the grief of losing her husband to a new purpose for her life.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Harper Muse through NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*

I found this to be just ok. It was slow moving and took me a while to finish it. The big event that the plot was moving towards, just kind of happened in a few sentences with the main characters not even really being involved. I also new exactly how it was going to end in terms of the love interest.

A thoughtless wish, a haunting melody, and a mysterious door . . . all weave together to create this magical novel of a woman who must find the will, the courage, and the strength to claim a life of her own.
Widowed at only thirty-five and struggling to come to terms with a life she no longer recognizes, Josephine Reynolds tosses out a thoughtless wish that splits her world into two parallel but vastly different timelines . . . with potentially devastating consequences. With echoes of It’s a Wonderful Life, Josephine must race through time to save not only her great-grandmother but herself and the family she loves.
Magical and rich with 1920s period detail, The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds is an entertaining read that captured my attention from the start.

*Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.75 stars

This was a fun and heartfelt magical realism/time travel adventure. There was humor, tears, a mystery to solve and lots of emotion. Well done.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Jennifer Moorman's "The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds" is a captivating blend of magical realism, historical fiction, and emotional journey that will enchant readers from the first page to the last. Set between present-day Nashville and the roaring 1920s, this novel weaves a tale of grief, self-discovery, and the unbreakable bonds of family across generations.

The story follows Josephine Reynolds, a young widow grappling with devastating loss. When she impulsively purchases her family's ancestral home, she unknowingly steps into a time-bending adventure that will challenge her perception of reality and her own existence. Moorman's vivid prose brings both time periods to life, with rich descriptions that transport readers seamlessly between eras.

At the heart of the novel is Josephine's relationship with her great-grandmother Alma, whom she meets in 1927 through a magical door. This intergenerational connection forms the emotional core of the story, exploring themes of resilience, love, and the healing power of family..

Moorman expertly balances the fantastical elements with genuine emotional depth, creating characters that readers will deeply care for.
The author's attention to historical detail shines through in her portrayal of 1920s Nashville, complete with speakeasies and period-accurate dialogue. This attention to authenticity grounds the magical elements of the story, making the impossible seem plausible.

While the concept of time travel is not new in literature, Moorman's approach feels fresh and purposeful. The "vanishing" aspect adds a layer of urgency to Josephine's journey, creating tension that keeps readers engaged throughout the novel.

"The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds" is more than just a time travel story; it's a poignant exploration of grief and the process of rediscovering oneself after loss. Moorman handles these themes with sensitivity and insight, offering a story that is both comforting and inspiring to those who have experienced similar pain.

The novel's pacing is well-executed, with a satisfying build-up to a conclusion that ties the various threads together beautifully. Some readers may find the ending slightly rushed, but overall, the story's resolution is emotionally fulfilling and true to the characters' journeys.

In conclusion, "The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds" is a heartwarming, magical tale that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, magical realism, and emotionally resonant storytelling. Jennifer Moorman has crafted a novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page, reminding us of the enduring power of love and the magic that can be found in unexpected places.

A dual time line time travel novel about a woman who is looking for herself. Josephine, a young widow, is at loose ends when she inadvertently discovers there's a portal to 1927 at her great-grandmother Alma's house. She steps through and finds herself in, of all things, a speak easy. This is very much about family and knowing yourself-and how one small things has reverberations across the years. Josephine's a good character and Moorman is a good storyteller-and this is a good read. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. For fans of magical realism.

The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds is about a young widowed Josephine, who is going through a difficult time. She decides to buy her great-grandmother's home, and while renovating it, she discovers the original door of the house and finds herself transported back to 1927. As a fan of time travel books and emotional stories, I truly enjoyed this novel. The dynamic between Josephine and her great-grandmother was particularly moving for me. It was a deeply emotional read. I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to checking out the author's other works as well.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Focus for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'll post my review closer to the publication date. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Generally I like time travel and this one did move seamlessly between times, but I could take it or leave it. I stuck with it because I enjoy this era of speakeasies and jazz but I never really felt committed to this book. I appreciate the complimentary digital ARC that I received from NetGalley and the publisher. This review is my own opinion.

I was not sure what to expect when I began this book. I was more than pleasantly surprised. Josephine, Alma, Danny, and the others came off the page for me. The depiction of Josephine's complicated first marriage was nuanced and accurate, flawlessly portraying the gray areas of life. Josephine's journeys - physical, mental, emotional - were dynamic, believable, and relatable. I was especially charmed by Danny. For the first time, I believe this book could have stood to be a bit longer, as there were some plot lines that felt rushed early on in the story. However, the rush to get to the heart of the story can be forgiven because of just how much heart it had. The ending was bittersweet but exactly the right call. I look forward to recommending this book to my friends.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman. Josephine is newly windowed in her mid-thirties, and she’s struggling to make sense of her life. Her sister sends her a real estate listing, and it for her great-grandmother’s former home! Impulsively, Josephine buys it. It needs some help to be restored, and Josephine starts with the front door. At a salvage yard, she amazingly stumbles upon the home’s original front door. Even more amazingly, this door has magical properties, and Josephine soon finds herself back in the 1920s with her great-grandmother, Alma. Alma (also windowed) runs a speakeasy in her basement! Josephine is able to use the door as a portal, going back and forth from the present to the past. She soon discovers that things in the present are being erased, and she realizes her entire existence is in jeopardy! This book was Back to the Future-esque, and I enjoyed it very much. Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. #bookstagram #whatiread #reading #bookgram #bookworm #jennifermoorman #netgalley #goodreads #books #timetravel #speakeasy

Despite the great reviews on this one... I DNF'd at 47%. The writing was childish and the plot very meandering--I was straight up bored. For those who appreciate cozy family stories--this might be for you! But this one was not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and the publisher HarperMuse in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a big fan of magical realism, which is why I decided to request a copy of this novel. However, I like magic realism only if it’s characters are multi-layered, complex and/or fierce. Unfortunately, Jo is not that kind of girl. She’s a little too weak for my taste, and it’s unfortunate that she’s the kind of person who loses herself whenever she’s in a relationship. Jo reminds me somewhat of the romance novel characters I read… back in the late 1990s. Her sister totally upstages her (and I think is more deserving of being the main character). I didn’t finish the book because I didn’t really care about Jo.

Not a bad book. It’s cozy but kinda middling. 2.75 out of 5.

DNF

This book, sadly, wasn't for me.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for this ARC opportunity.