The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

1) this book instills so many emotions! I laughed, cried, smiled, and felt love. I tend to rate based on feelings and emotions and if a book can make me really truly feel something it is an automatic 5 ⭐️

2) I thought it was unique and fun! It was genuinely a fun book to read.

In a depressive rut after the death of her husband, thirty-five year old Josephine wishes she were never born. Accidental time travel drops her into 1927, racing against the clock to save her great-grandmother’s life and her own eventual existence. Over time, Josephine learns how much of herself she lost during her marriage and seeks to find herself again.

Overall this is a light, easy read without spice or violence on the page, though there is plenty of insight to consider if you’re looking for it. The jazz age speakeasy and old mansion settings are palpable and add so much to the story. I was pleasantly surprised how well the time travel element is handled. I think this book will have wide appeal.

I received a complimentary early copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book had me feeling every emotion the words reached from the page and hugged me. A real story of grief and finding yourself in the midst of heartbreak and starting over. Magical and loving

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman, one of my favorite authors. Magical! Just magical.

I want to put those quote about wishes because it made me stop to think.
I believe the old saying goes be careful with what you wish for because it can happen. Others might call it karma
"Those made from the deepest part of someone's heart even the broken pieces, well, they can dramatically change life. The stronger the wish, the stronger the possibility of change.
She said that listens to our wishes. Time breaks and reforms. Like branches of a river, time can split from
a single point where a vital event occurs— when a specific wish is made a single point where a vital event occurs— when a specific wish is made— and create alternate outcomes simultaneously.
Wow! That certainly leaves a lot to think about doesn't it. This quite came from Leo. I'm loving his wisdom.
Josephine is a pretty cool character.
This is an amazing book. I love time time traveling adventures. I was pretty happy when I received this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the chance to read this delightful story!

This was a fun, breezy read great for fans of 'Midnight in Paris'. The time-travel didn't get too convoluted, which I always appreciate. I was expecting a fun read from the premise alone, but was pleasantly surprised by the way this story tackled love, grief, and healing. The romance was sweet, and the characters all feel distinct and likeable (Except Barbara, who deserves a kick in the tush! lol) The ending was bittersweet, of course, but I wasn't disappointed.

I highly recommend picking this book up, and I will definitely look into other titles by this author.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

How do you describe an indescribably wonderful book? This was the type of book where I never wanted to stop reading because I felt the story would continue without me!

Recently widowed Josephine Reynolds, in all her grief, feels that she is just a shadow or ghost of her usual self and wishes she could just disappear. Her sister Katherine encourages her to move through her grief and become the woman she wants to be, to be her real self. When they find that their great-grandmothers home has gone into foreclosure, Katherine convinces Josephine to buy the house. The tale that ensues is a magical tale of a Narnia-like portal Josephine passes through to meet her great-grandmother in 1927 where she experiences fringed flapper dresses, cloche hats, windowpane suits, French 75's, prohibition & bootlegging, and a speakeasy. The descriptions are so real that I could see the smoky speakeasy, smell the cigarettes & alcohol, and hear the jazz music.

As a result of meeting her grandmother, Josephine learns to become herself again, regains her momentum and strength, and finds that you can live and love again. A truly wonderful read.

The characters development is excellent, the story line is engaging from beginning to end, and the book ends exactly as I envisioned!

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Harper Muse for allowing me to read an advance copy in return for my honest review.

Josephine is struggling. Her husband died unexpectedly and she's not sure how to go on. She even wishes she'd never been born. In an impulse she ends up buying an old mansion that used to belong to her family. In the basement, she finds an old speakeasy and soon after unexpectedly ends up with a door leading to 1927. Add she travels back and forth, she realizes she's disappearing. She had to figure out how to save herself. This is a great time travel book!!!

Thank you NetGalley for granting me access to the arc of The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!! I have never felt so immersed in 1927! And at a speakeasy! My heart is bursting with love and I feel like dancing! At one point Josephine thinks to herself "why not turn up every part of my life? Why not live louder and bolder?" YES!!! That is exactly how I feel after reading this story!! This book is why I love to read!!! GAH!!!

I recieved a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Captivating. Captivating is the first word which springs to mind when thinking about this book. Jennifer Moorman again delivers a beautiful tale of magical realism.
Josephine Reynolds, newly widowed in her mid thirties, makes a rash and thoughtless wish in a moment of grief. Thinking no more about it, she embarks on a journey to restore her great-grandmothers home to its former glory, however she soon realises that there may be more work than just the property restoration to challenge her.
When she discovers miniscule words carved into the front door, she is transported back to the 1920's, and into her great grandmother Alma's circle of friends.
With a parallel timeline emerging, Josephine decides to get to know her great grandmother, however, when the timelines being to merge, Josephine can feel herself slowly disappearing.
Can Josephine find herself again? Can she start to heal her heart and mind?
Jennifer Moorman again expertly blends magical realism with historical fiction. The descriptions of the 1920's are descriptive, evocative, and you can almost imagine you are side by side with Josephine in the roaring 20's. As a reader who enjoys historical fiction, this read was beautiful

O m g!! I am in love with this book!! It was everything I've expected and more..
I was so excited to read about two timelines, and especially because one in set in 1927., and the 20's are such a fun time to read about. That was one of my favorite parts of the book, how well Jennifer Moorman described the atmosphere, the parties and dresses, the men! The courtship, the manners.. it's just chef's kiss!

Jospehine is a widow in her 30's who decides to move house to get a fresh start, and she ends up buying her great grandmother's Alma house. The house is full of Alma's things and memories, and anything but ordinary; and soon Josephine is immersed in Alma's world, and quite literally so.
I'm not gonna give too much away, but she is faced with decisions that could alter both timelines - and hence the title - changing the future so much, she might never even exist..!

There's so much more to it, the female friendships, family, romance, hope.. How things that are meant for us will always find us, and bravery will always be rewarded.
It was SUCH a heartwarming read that I can't waitttt for all of my friends to read; and I can't believe we have to wait for January for that to happen!
But once it does!! This will actually be a PERFECT winter read.
Add it to your TBR's, folks! So beautiful, a full 5 star!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. But, opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for my first ever ARC! :)

(I made a little moodboard for how I imagined the book & you can see it here :) - https://i.pinimg.com/736x/83/38/f1/8338f191da1f29e5cc34fca264629543.jpg )

I received an ARC of The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds through Netgalley, and I am absolutely blown away. Jennifer Moorman has crafted a mesmerizing tale that seamlessly blends historical fiction with time-travel suspense.

Josephine's journey is both heart-wrenching and exhilarating. Her connection with her vivacious great-grandmother, Alma, is beautifully portrayed. As the plot twists and turns, I found myself on the edge of my seat, desperate to discover how Josephine would save both her past and future.

Moorman’s vivid descriptions transport readers to the roaring twenties while simultaneously building tension in the present. This novel is a must-read for fans of time-travel and historical fiction alike.

Five stars without a doubt!

I love that the whole time travel aspect wasn’t too complicated. I love a good time travel story even though they usually make me so anxious about timelines. This was such a great read though the character development that happens throughout through the discovery of how things were in a different time really makes this such a special read.

This is such a healing story too, things aren’t glossed over too quickly which is nice to see because there is a lot of emotion to be felt with the death of a spouse.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC

Well written and engaging, The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds pulled me in from the first chapter and held my attention throughout - I read it in two sittings over the course of one day.

With excellent character development and a compelling plot, I really didn’t want to stop reading this. I don’t want to write anything that could be considered a spoiler so I will simply add - I loved this story, absolutely adored it ❤️

This was my first time reading Ms Moorman’s work - it definitely won’t be the last.



Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the DRC

Omg this book was evertything i expected. It, had love , grief, friendship, healing , time traveling . i felt in love from the beginning. It was captivating.
Recently widowed Josephine Reynolds, in all her grief, feels that she is just a shadow or ghost of her usual self and wishes she could just disappear. Her sister Katherine encourages her to move through her grief and become the woman she wants to be, to be her real self. When they find that their great-grandmothers home has gone into foreclosure, Katherine convinces Josephine to buy the house. The tale that ensues is a magical tale of a Narnia-like portal Josephine passes through to meet her great-grandmother in 1927 where she experiences fringed flapper dresses, cloche hats, windowpane suits, , prohibition , and a speakeasy.
The book is so atmospheric , it literally takes you back to the 1920s.I felt as if I was there with the characters in the book. This was my first time reading Moorman’s work - it definitely won’t be the last.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for the e ARC and the chance for reading this book.

Oh my goodness what a book!!! A story of love, grief, history and coming to terms with your present and future while trying to understand your past.

Jennifer Moorman writes a gorgeous story that left me sobbing several times.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Muse for the honor to read and review this amazing book!!!

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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

Wow!! Moorman does it again! I love her magical realism takes and while this one is a little different with a time travel element, she writes a wonderful tale!
Josephine is floundering. Recently widowed she decides to renovate her ancestral home. When she finds the original door she learns it’s a portal back to the Jazz Age and to her great- grandmothers time. Moving back and forth through time Moorman writing takes us right there too! But can Josephine rewrite history or will it create more problems?

Time travel books always leave me with many questions, but it is fiction so the questions will just have to remain unanswered. I loved this book! The house, the setting, the characters. It didn't matter that everything seemed to fit, it was still so good. The characters were very likeable and the pace just perfect for me. The setting was described so well, that I could actually envision the basement room in my mind.

Highly recommend for a romantic, happy ending, filled with a magical twist!

Some books don’t just tell a story; they invite you to live within their pages long after they’ve closed, and The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds does just that. I received a complimentary copy of this book from HarperMuse via NetGalley, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts.

The story follows Josephine Reynolds, a thirty-five-year-old woman who realizes, after losing her husband of fifteen years, that she no longer knows who she is outside of her marriage. In her grief, she wishes she’d never been born—a throwaway thought that sets a series of impossible events into motion.

Seeking a fresh start, Josephine buys her great-grandmother Alma’s house, hoping its restoration will help her move forward. But as she unlocks the original, intricately carved door of the house, she finds herself transported nearly a century back.

What follows is a heartfelt, five-day journey where Josephine must prevent Alma’s untimely death to secure her own future. She soon finds herself completely immersed in Alma's world—a world of underground speakeasies and lively gatherings.

I loved the bond that forms between these two women from different times. Alma, a bright, spirited woman who embraces life despite her own struggles, quickly becomes a guiding light for Josephine. As the past and present blend, Josephine grows close to Alma’s friends and finds love with a man named Danny. Despite her fears, she allows herself to be loved and to choose love in return. Watching her grow and begin to define herself as her own person, rather than an extension of anyone else, was incredibly moving. The found-family aspect was wonderfully done and Josephine’s journey to self-discovery is one that I’ll carry with me.

The ending is bittersweet, adding to the story’s beauty- so keep the tissues ready. This book is perfect for anyone who loves stories about second chances and finding oneself in the most unexpected ways. It releases in January 2025, and I can’t recommend it enough for those seeking a beautifully emotional read.

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.

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!

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!