We've all made thoughtless wishes. "I wish I would have left earlier." "I wish I would have turned that corner instead of this one." Josephine Reynolds made a silly wish one night of wishing she was never born. It was after months and months of grief, after the unexpected death of her husband. She's been sort of floating in time. Not seeing friends, not leaving the house, not....truly living.

When her family home, the Carter Mansion, shows up on a real estate website, she (with the encouragement of her sister) purchases the house and moves to start her new life. Upon meeting the President of the HOA, she learns how many changes need to be made to the house, and she starts with the front door. Luckily, the original door is still available at a local salvage yard. Once it's installed, however, Josephine's life changes.

The door is the portal to 1927 and to her great-great grandmother Alma. Josephine learns about Alma's speakeasy, meets her friends, and falls in love all while trying to make sure that Alma lives beyond one October night.
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The premise of this book is fantastic, however the execution felt a bit rudimentary. The plot itself was fun, but moved at a glacial pace. There were plot lines that were left unanswered and storylines that I needed more of. I mean, I'm not even getting into the time/space continuum of the matter. I feel like stories like this have been done before and better. Hate to say it, but I should have probably quit this book before the mid-point.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

***Thank you Harper Collins and Netgalley for the ARC of this book***

Imagine exploring an old mansion and finding a secret door - do you open it??? HELL YES!
I loved the secret door component to this book as well as the bootlegging and it is the main reason that i wanted to read it but i must admit, it didn't pull me in as much as i thought it would.

I did connect with the main character not knowing who she was as a person until after her husband passes away but as far her story continuing, i just didn't really feel it.

It is a sweet read if you can commit to the storyline but i found it a really slow read.

When I saw the blurb of this book, a woman steps through a door to 1927 and meets her great-grandmother, I knew I had to read it. Plus look at that fabulous cover! This is more historical fiction than magical realism, which disappointed me. I liked the idea of a magic entryway to the past that ends up helping you in the future, that part I did enjoy. The writing felt more like a romance, which isn’t my thing either. I did like watching the main character, Josephine come into her own. But what I didn’t like was the fact that she goes into a new timeline and boom! She starts a new romance.

The plot moves at a very slow pace and at times I was bored. I wasn’t a big fan of the main character either, she grated on me the wrong way for some reason. Just another woman who lost herself to a marriage and doesn’t start to live her life until he’s dead. I did love the character of her sister though, she was a force to be reckoned with and supported Joe one hundred percent. I wasn’t a fan of the rudimentary writing style or how the ending was tied up into a neat little bow, I found it very superficial.

The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds was a really sweet, enjoyable read. It’s about a woman named Josephine who, after losing her husband, moves into her great-grandmother’s historic home. She discovers a hidden speakeasy in the basement, and before long, finds herself transported back to 1927.

It’s a quick, fun read—light and entertaining!

Thank you Harper Collins and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds a historical fiction romance with a little bit of time travel. For those seeking a book predominantly with time travel or mainly magical based you may be disappointed. Now into the premise of the novel, Josephine Reynolds, a newly widowed woman moves back into her family home and discovers a magical door that transports her back to 1927. She meets her great-grandmother who is running an illegal speakeasy. Family, friendships, love, and bravery echo throughout this novel giving it a heart-warming and easy read!

This book offers a unique twist on time travel, blending historical fiction with emotional self-discovery. The Jazz Age backdrop is so interesting to me, and the relationship between Josephine and Alma adds a lot depth to the story. However, the pacing is slow, and while Josephine is likable, it takes some time to fully connect with her as she works through her grief and personal challenges.

If you love time-travel books with strong emotional undertones and a touch of historical intrigue, this one might be for you. For me, the slow build and the time-travel element didn’t quite hit the mark, but it has its charms for fans of this genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an eARC of this book!

I absolutely love time traveling books! This book had me interest and invested from the first page and kept my attention the entire time. The ending was beautiful as well

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

The blurb sounded really promising. And it was a nice time travel story but for me it was just slow sometimes, somehow the story didn't pick up as it should.

Also I didn't quite connect to Josephine, found her lacking of depth.

Thank you to Harper Collins & Netgalley for this Arc.
I absolutely adored this book, it felt like a cosy experience that had me curious & touched by the heart warming connection with family. The end was so sweet & really wrapped the book plot up so deliciously that my heart felt warmed. Highly recommend reading! 4.5 stars 🌟

This book follows newly widowed Josephine on her journey between the present and past, facing her truths and taking chances alongside a delightful cast of characters. Jennifer Moorman’s latest will keep you on your toes, dancing the Charleston from one dimension to the next. You’ll turn the doorknob and enter an enchanted, time-traveling story that embraces hope and proves there is happiness awaiting on the other side of grief. I highly recommend.

I book like a warm cup of cocoa; it is sweet and heartwarming, and it goes down just as easily.
A nice love story—not necessarily romantic love, but more about learning to love oneself.

After losing her husband, the protagonist, Josephine, feels lost and without a purpose in life.
This changes after she stumbles through her front door into 1927, where she meets her great-grandmother and a group of life-loving people.

If you can ignore the usual time travel-logic trouble, you will find an entertaining story with friendly characters and a fun dive into the 1920s.
I highly enjoyed the setting and the description of the clothing, hairstyle, and jewelry.
It does have the usual "problems" of this type of books: Everybody is good-looking, very kind, and generally perfect in every way.

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

I received this ebook from Netgalley and the publishers. Thank you

I really related to a main character, Josephine, as she struggles to make a life for herself after her husband dies.

The time travel element was fun. I enjoyed reading about life in the Jazz Age.

Josephine is transported to the 1920's. if you like time travel books, you will love this one, first time reading this author, but will definitely look for more books by her.

Fun story, but fell a bit short for me. I was looking for a bit more - felt like the character development was a bit broad and the plot was just a bit lacking.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

Ultimately not my cup of tea, I'm afraid. I liked the concept, but none of the characters felt fleshed out and were painted in overly broad strokes. (For example - every time we hear about Josephine's deceased husband, it's always about how overbearing he is). The historical details never came alive for me.

Time travel, the 1920s, an atmospheric speakeasy, and captivating characters – what more could you want?

The heartwarming novel “The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds” explores topics of loss, love, friendship, and second chances. While the abrupt beginning and the unusual formatting of the eBook were a bit confusing at first, I quickly found myself immersed in the story. Despite the initially somber premise, the author skillfully strikes a delicate balance. The narrative is not weighed down by heavy emotions but instead remains light and accessible, allowing readers to fly through the pages and root for the characters.

Although the plot could have benefited from a bit more depth, as it sometimes felt a bit superficial and left a few questions unanswered, I still enjoyed the story.

For fans of “The Great Gatsby” and time-travel novels, this book is an absolute must. Without relying on action, spice, or violence, it weaves a beautiful tale that shines through its endearing characters, who quickly find their way into your heart. By the end, you may even feel a bit disappointed that the journey has come to a close, wishing you could linger in this world just a little longer.

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Jennifer Moorman’s *The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds* is a magical and heartwarming tale that takes readers on an emotional journey through time. Recently widowed, Josephine Reynolds is struggling with grief and finds herself buying her ancestral home on a whim. What begins as a simple renovation turns extraordinary when a mysterious door transports her back to 1927, where she meets her spirited great-grandmother, Alma.

With richly drawn characters and a plot full of suspense, this novel beautifully explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. Moorman’s storytelling is both heartfelt and immersive, making *The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds* a delightful read for fans of historical fiction with a twist of magic.

Jennifer Moorman is a wizard! This magical book introduces you to widow Josephine Reynolds. Josephine is spiraliing and griefing and decides on a whim to buy her old ancestral home when it comes up in foreclosure. She begins restoring the home and finds the the door she installs is actually quite magical! When Josephine walks through it a certain way she is transported to the 20's and is able to interact with her great grandmother. Everything is so real and vibrant, even Josephine's grief is beautifully written about. This is the best kind of historical fiction and a time traveling book to die for!
#harpermuse #harperfocus #jennifermoorman #thevanishinglifeofjosephinereynolds

I will admit that I had no expectations when I started this book but found it delightful! It was a clean read with a bit of romance and I couldn't put it down once I started it. Josephine's journey to finding her true self was so relatable. And the ending was perfect!!!