As I finished the story, I was overwhelmed by the simplicity and magical vibes of this book. Now that I’ve had time to absorb and reflect, I can confidently say it was a great read. The charm of this book lies in the uncomplicated nature of its plot, which allows readers to focus on the different timelines and stories running through it. The magic isn’t adorned with layers of complicated rules that bog down the time travel system—it’s just enough to make sense.

I enjoyed the possibilities of several timelines coexisting together with alternate versions, though I do feel there was still scope to elaborate on that aspect a bit more. The characters give off found-family vibes, which is also technically true due to the grandmother’s connection. There’s a romantic angle as well, woven into all the events happening in the past—so I guess there’s something for every reader to latch onto in this story.

Since I was listening to the audiobook, I had the option to fast-track the narration, but it might feel a little slow-paced to someone reading in other formats. If I had to pick this up as a gift for someone, I’d probably give it to a person in need of an escape from reality without too much drama.

I enjoyed reading about Josephine traveling back in time from present day to almost a century ago to her great-grandmother’s speakeasy. I really enjoyed reading and gelt what the roaring 1920’s must have been like! The author did a great job describing the style of that era.

I really enjoyed the author’s exploration of time travel and magical realism. What happens if a wish is made in current time and how does that affect the past and future? What happens if you change the past to correct the future? What happens to an object like a book if carried 100 years into the future? Does it look old and withered and does it look new when returned back in time.

More importantly do the people forget a traveller they’ve met in the past when they have to return to their current day? I really enjoyed thinking about these elements while Josephine is struggling with loss in her current day and then again in the past.

Thank you Netgalley for extending me an ARC as well as the audiobook. I am familiar with the narrator who really tells the story rather than just read it. I was able to easily pick up the audio where I left off in the book. Both print and audio were quite enjoyable. The opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you for this lovely story.

I love the exploration of grief and finding ones self again through connecting with ones family history and past.
My only true gripe is that it isn't longer.

It took me about two chapters to be fully bought in, but once it got me it kept me.

Perfect for fans of
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I was hooked when I saw this beautiful cover. This book is pure magic. I adore anything time travel. This is the story of how your past can help heal your future.

I truly enjoyed every part of this book! I devoured it! What an interesting descriptive trip back in time. I’m so glad i took a chance on this one! Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy!

The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds gives a premise vaguely reminiscent of Paige Crutcher's The Lost Witch. In the midst of depression, Josephine's sister convinces Josephine to buy their ancestral home and work on it. Unbeknownst to Josephine, there is a magic about the place and Josephine is transported back in time to connect with her great-grandmother. Josephine realizes however that this whole magical endeavor is too good to be true, and realizes she has shaped the future with her time-travel.

Thoughtful and endearing, The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds will have you considering your life and what would happen if all of your wishes came true. Josephine and Alma were both gorgeously fleshed out characters and the narration of the audio version was excellent; it kept me engaged and eager to keep listening all the way to the end.

This was a beautiful heartfelt read and I think it could be recommended to almost any reader.

This is such a heartwarming story about time travelling between past and present and be careful what you wish for because one thoughtless wish can turn your life upside down. The book also gave a great message to move forward rather than grieving over something that cannot be changed. If we live too much in past then we forget to live in the moment. If you like books with time travel, jazz age, likeable characters, and the one that explores the timeless bond of family, read this book. I loved Alma’s character. The narrator did a good job. Narration kept me engaged and the plot was really thought provoking.

Thanks to the Publisher, Author, and Narrator.

I loved The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds so much!

I received an advance audiobook. The narration was great. An easy quick listen that pulls at your heart.

Looking forward to more from Jennifer Moorman.

This was a cute time travel romance set in the 1920s. The narration was amazing. I would definitely listen to more books by this narrator. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an audio version of this book.

3.5/5.

This book was an easy and magical novel that literally transported you to another world. I had a lot of fun with it. I am not sure this is one I will remember forever, but it was really lovely in the moment.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for an ALC of this book.

Really interesting and inviting concept of Josephine going back in time in the ‘20s and trying to fix her great-grandmother’s timeline, while simultaneously trying to process grief and rediscover herself. It was also a fun, tho brief, look at the 1920s.

I liked the authenticity of how to manage the clothing and period differences, as well as the aging process. The vanishing parts were sort of reminiscent of Back to the Future and It’s a Wonderful Life.

It was very creative and tho I would have loved more 1920s I thought it was enjoyable and well done.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

I had the pleasure of reading the ARC of this amazing book and loved it. The audio version just kicked it up a notch!! Kathleen McInerney did an amazing job of bringing this outstanding cast of characters to life. I binged this in one day, absolutely phenomenal!

The ending had me clutching my pearls as if it were the first time I had heard the story. Jennifer has an amazing gift of writing magic into the real world; because why can't I find a magic door to another timeline? It could happen. Vivid attention to details when character and world-building for this book. Everything had a meaning, there were no wasted characters and the wrap up was seamless.
Again, an amazing coming of age, fantasy, dual timeline romance, with the perfect splash of magic!

Jennifer Moorman will forever be an auto buy author for me!

Thank you so much Netgalley, Harper Collins Focus/ Harper Muse, and Jennifer Moorman for this beautiful ALC of The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds.

Posted to Goodreads: 1/31/2025

This book is more than just a fun, time travel story. It shows a woman's journey of finding herself after loss, and learning how to live again, possibly one of the hardest things a person can do. The story follows Josephine, who makes a silly wish that changes her life, and the life of her great grandmother, Alma. Mixed with magic and emotion, this book will have you both smiling and maybe a little teary-eyed. I was able to listen to this audio book through NetGalley, and I hope that it finds more readers who will enjoy it as much as I did!

4.5 stars for this beautiful read about finishing yourself when you’re lost. Josephine’s husband passes away and she finds herself searching for a new home and finds her great grandmothers home for sale. From there we are treated to an extremely well written time traveling story. Heart warming and lovely.

This was such a phenomenal book! It has so many things I love. Time travel, duel timelines, a 1920s speakeasy, a woman trying to restart her life. What's not to love! These are some of my favorite book tropes.

The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds is an enchanting blend of magical realism and historical fiction. Josephine is newly widowed and trying to start over when she purchases her late grandmother's home. A home that allows her to travel in to help her great-grandmother.

I really enjoyed this! I loved that Josephine was able to travel between different times and wasn't stuck in the past. Josephine was an all-around great character, and her relationships felt so genuine.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and enjoyed the narration very much. It's was engaging and performed perfectly.

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

Josephine’s journey from mourning her late husband to discovering her great-grandmother’s house and the mystery hidden within it kept me hooked. The time-travel aspect is fascinating, and I loved how the two timelines intertwined as Josephine learned more about her family’s past and the impact of a single moment. While the pacing felt a bit slow at times, the emotional depth and the way the story unfolded made it a rewarding read. 4 stars.

This was a really great story. It reminded me a little of Kindred but maybe a little lower stakes. I love the time traveling elements, along with the time period. I don't think that historical fiction is always done in a way that I enjoy - but this definitely was. The narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life - especially those from the 20's.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

My first book by Jennifer Mooran. I will for sure try another book by her at some point. I was hooked by this book from the first chapter. You can feel love from from the characters and hear their voices after you put the book down. I was extremley disapointed when the book was over. I found myself wanting more from the ending. But I am hopefull that the ending might lead to a 2nd book. Could you time travel though a door and if you could would you?

Josephine Reynolds is recently widowed and deeply grieving her late husband when she learns that her great-grandmother Alma's home in Nashville is in foreclosure. She buys it and sets about restoring it, and that's when she discovers its original front door in a salvage yard. The door turns out to be a portal into the 1920s, where she discovers a speakeasy in the basement and learns that Alma was killed in a raid. Can she alter the course of history to save Alma, without undoing her own existence?

I was so excited to listen to this book. The cover is just gorgeous, and I love the Roaring Twenties. Sadly, I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would. The story progresses very slowly and I found my attention wandering a lot. The romance between Josephine and a man she meets in the speakeasy took up too much of the story for my taste. I did, however, enjoy the descriptions of 1920s fashion, drinks, decor, and more. And the ending was very sweet.

The audiobook narration was fine, nothing spectacular.

The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds provided plenty of the intriguing charm that magical realism offers. I enjoyed the setting of both the past and present being within a contained location, it was easy to imagine. The small bits of evidence of both timelines colliding as the story progressed was a neat touch. It was a slow paced book for the most part, which aren’t my personal favorite. However, the main events were interesting and I did enjoy the great-grandmother as a character, I could believe the sweetness and strength of her demeanor and imagine her as a vibrant and social young woman in the 20’s. The ending of the book was clever and I was satisfied with the conclusion.