Pleasantly surprised! I was a little wary based on the description of the novel but ended up enjoying myself.

I enjoyed the genre-blending and concept of this book. I could also really tell that the author has an appreciation for art and museums, and thought that translated well into the story! I will definitely think of this book the next time I’m at a museum.

However, the dialogue did not work for me (felt forced/overcompensating) and many pieces of the magical realism aspect left me confused. I felt that the relationship and characters were also underdeveloped/rushed and left me wanting more from each, Personally, the direction the plot went in during the last 40% (covid, burglary) was not for me either.

The impact of art, creativity, and boundless love+
/connection was what stood out in this one! I think many readers will appreciate the escape this book provides.

Thank you for the opportunity to be an early reader, and I will still look forward to this author’s next book!

This was super sweet and cozy. It was a good page-turner that kept me interested and I liked the characters. As someone who enjoys art and museums, it was right up my alley.

dnf at ~50%
I had really high hopes going into this book because the premise sounded so interesting to me. However, as the book started I was a bit confused almost about the reality of this book. I know that it’s magical realism but it seemed a bit too hard to believe. There also wasn’t a lot of chemistry between the two main characters for me. It left me somewhat disappointed.

Thank you to the publisher, Ballantine Books, as well as NetGalley for the eGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was an original, inventive, and romance-filled debut! I am really impressed with Morgan Pager's ability to weave the two perspectives together to create a fascinating love story based on an appreciation for art.

I didn't know quite what to expect going into this one, I do not always take well to the cheesy rom-coms, but this had a lot of depth and I had a blast getting lost in the story. While the premise is not realistic, the story is told in a way that makes you want to believe that it is, and take a running start at the next painting you see.

I loved this and look forward to reading more by Pager in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this book is not for me. The love story is way too rushed, even for insta-love and this makes both Jean and Claire seem ridiculous and immature. The dialogue is too stilted. And the worldbuilding aspect of this book is nonexistent. Perhaps another round of editing could have helped.

I really enjoyed reading this and enjoyed the feel of the world. It had that element that I was looking for in this type of book, the characters were everything that I wanted and enjoyed how good everything flowed together. Morgan Pager wrote this perfectly and wanted to read more.

Hard to enjoy - too many plot holes and needed more world building. Felt too much like fanfiction, I was looking for something more introspective and edgier. This was all fluff, no substance.

This story was so delightful! I was a little wary that the high concept of a woman being able to jump into museum paintings couldn't be executed in a way that allowed me to suspend any disbelief. But I found the writing so charming, the pace quite lively, the descriptions of museum life (both at night and in the daytime) so vivid, and the characters so sweet... that I truly did get lost in the plot and couldn't wait to pick the book back up again every time I had to pause reading it. I could totally see this story as a movie. I think this will be a popular debut novel with art lovers, romance readers, and anyone who wants an imaginative, immersive escape from the real world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

In The Art of Vanishing, Morgan Pager tells the story of a couple who fall in love against all odds even though their love story appears to be doomed from the very start. I loved reading this novel so much. As soon as I read the synopsis of it, I knew this was a book I would be interested in reading as the concept of it is very unique and I have never read a book like this one before. I loved the main characters of Jean and Claire and found their love story to be enchanting. I really enjoyed how the author brought these characters to life and how interesting the story was. There was never a dull moment in this book for me. I liked learning about new works of art I had never heard of before and having the subjects of various paintings come to life was such a cool concept to me. I think a lot of people will enjoy this story just as much as I did; the author truly has a gift for writing and for keeping readers captivated by the story she tells. I am looking forward to reading more from Morgan Pager!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager is a lovely and inventive story about an art museum janitorial worker, Claire, who has the magical ability to jump into the paintings. I really wanted to love this but I found the writing to be so simple that it didn’t match the concept of the story. I wanted more! That being said, it was a perfectly entertaining reading - I just didn’t feel anything (and I wanted to!). I think many readers will enjoy this and I commend the author on creating such a creative debut. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and the world within the museum was created beautifully.

Morgan Pager brings art to life in such a magical way with The Art of Vanishing. A romance whirlwind develops between a museum janitor and a man... inside a famous art painting. When Claire figures out that she has the ability to jump into the paintings and enter a new world filled of iconic figures in paintings, she finds herself falling into an intimate relationship with Jean, the son of Henri Matisse, who lives in "The Music Lesson."

The Art of Vanishing has beautifully drawn out characters and a page-turning plot. Excellent read for museum lovers and artists!

this felt a little insta-lovey to me and the characters felt flat. I was intrigued by the story but also a bit bored.

What It’s About

Sad, reclusive Frenchman Jean Matisse has been stuck—literally—for over a century, a snapshot of his 19-year-old self frozen in one of his famous father’s paintings. His days are spent sitting very still, wistfully watching museum visitors and re-reading the same book on repeat (le sigh). While his fellow painted companions get up to nightly shenanigans (think Harry Potter portraits meets Night at the Museum), Jean prefers to keep to himself, reflecting on his lonely existence.

That is, until Claire—a beautiful and mysterious janitor with Secrets™️—starts working the night shift. Turns out Claire is far more observant than the other museum staff members, and notices that the painting subjects move around at night. She also has a magical touch and after ignoring the “do not touch the artwork” sign, is transported into Jean’s painting.

What follows is an enchanting love story reminiscent of Midnight in Paris (a fantastic film, despite its problematic director—again, le sigh). Jean and Claire flit between paintings, exploring sunlit beaches, attending lavish parties, and embarking on whimsical adventures. But their mystical bubble doesn’t last forever, and these two lovebirds are soon forced to reckon with the realities of their own separate worlds.

My Thoughts

A lot happens in this book, and while I have plenty to say, I’m not about to spoil it for you 8 months ahead of its release date (I may be snarky, but I’m not that mean😅).

Here’s what I can say:

I loved it. This book is mystical, whimsical, and seamlessly blends genres to create a truly magical love story. (And yes, I said love story—not romance novel. There’s a distinction, and it’s subtle but important.)

Actually, make that two love stories.

The first, of course, is Jean and Claire’s. Their relationship is wholesome, tender, and so beautifully written that I was completely invested in their star-crossed romance from the get go.

The second love story is the author’s ode to museums. This book is a love letter to the way museums can transport us—offering a magical escape from the monotony of everyday life. It’s poignant, enchanting, and made me want to visit every museum in my area immediately.

This book was an absolute delight—charming, magical, and effortlessly enchanting. I was swept up in the whimsy from page one, and I’m so grateful to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

I really wanted to like this one, but it reads like a debut with stilted dialogue and a super rushed love story. Jean falls in love with Claire instantly by learning nothing about her, and Claire falls in love with Jean by looking at a painting for a few nights. I thought I was going to love this, but it wasn't my jam.

Jean is a quiet thoughtful individual that puts in 8 hours per day at the museum, he’s an expert on one page of a French novel from 1917, he’s the son of the famous painter, Henri Matisse, and oh, he lives in a painting. Claire is a young woman that begins her new job as a night shift maintenance worker at the museum, she loves the art so much that it seems to her that they’re moving…and maybe it is not just fantasy. There is the inherent danger of a human with knowledge of the paint world’s inner workings, however, Jean throws caution to the wind and breaks the barrier between the two worlds by pulling Claire into his universe. Both are in their early 20s, although Jean has been that age for over a hundred years, they both have past relationships that threaten to jeopardize this potential romance. Jean lays his heart out in the open, whilst Claire keeps her life on the outside close to her chest. Overall, I was extremely intrigued by the premise of this book and perhaps I let my expectations shade reality. It gave me Night at the Museum and Kate and Leopold vibes that made me jump at the chance to read this rom-com. However, reality and expectations seem to rarely find common ground, and I found this one to be a little disappointing.

Wow.....this one was just pure magic to read and is perfect for any art lover/museum goer out there. The concept and the writing are so unique that I read this in one sitting. I could not put it down!

The Art of Vanishing took my breath away. It's been a long time since I read a book in one sitting, but I couldn't stand not knowing what was waiting for me on the next page. Such a unique premise and Morgan Pager absolutely delivered.

The world is going to love this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC.

The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager offers an interesting premise but ultimately feels flat due to its lack of character depth and emotional engagement. The relationship between Jean and Claire, the central focus of the novel, never really comes to life. Instead of diving into their bond with any real depth, the writing skips over crucial moments that could have made their connection feel genuine and emotionally charged. There are hardly any scenes where the characters are deeply honest with each other or vulnerable, which left me feeling detached from their struggles and triumphs. It’s a missed opportunity, as the emotional core of the book could have been much stronger.

That said, the writing itself is strong, and Pager does offer a unique and thoughtful perspective on the imagined lives of subjects in works of art. The way the author weaves this theme throughout the narrative is compelling, providing an intriguing lens through which to view the characters' experiences. While the novel may lack the emotional resonance I hoped for, its intellectual angle on art and its subjects gives it a distinctive voice. Overall, I appreciated the concept, but I wanted more from the characters and their relationships to really make this a memorable read.