The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds
- Judith D Collins
- Jan 27
- 7 min read
By: Jennifer Mooman
Narrator: Kathleen McInerney
ISBN: 9781400343652
Publisher: HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse
Publication Date: 01/14/2025
Format: Audio/Other
Duration: 10 Hours, 26 Minutes, 16 Seconds
My Rating: 5 Stars (ALC) (ARC)
Can one thoughtless wish erase a life?
Widowed at thirty-five, Josephine Reynolds wishes she could disappear, but her concerned sister convinces her to buy their ancestral home, a Craftsman bungalow in disrepair and foreclosure. It's a welcome distraction, and Josephine can't believe her luck when she finds the home's original door in a salvage yard.
When she installs the door and steps through it, Josephine is transported into 1927, where she meets her great-grandmother Alma, a vivacious and daring woman running an illegal speakeasy in the bungalow's basement. Immersed in the vibrant Jazz Age, Josephine forms a profound bond with Alma, only to discover upon her return to the present that history has been altered. Alma's life was tragically cut short in a speakeasy raid just a week after their fateful meeting.
Josephine has a chilling revelation--her own existence is unraveling/vanishing--and she must race against time to rewrite history. Josephine is desperate to not only save Alma but save her own future in a time-bending journey where past and present intertwine in a desperate battle for survival.
Infused with Jennifer Moorman's signature blend of magical detail and heartfelt storytelling, The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds is a tale of resilience in the face of loss and a testament to the timeless bond of family.
My Review
"Intensely captivating and utterly enchanting!"
Master storyteller Jennifer Moorman's latest magical tale, THE VANISHING OF JOSEPHINE REYNOLDS, is a testament to her exquisite storytelling skills. It's a must-read for all book lovers, especially those who enjoy historical fiction and time travel narratives.
From the time travel, romance, and self-discovery to the excitement, adventure, and speakeasy to the glamour, decor, fashion, parties, and charm of the 1920s era reminiscent of The Great Gatsby—it will surely captivate fans (Alma and myself included).
Infused with Jennifer Moorman's signature blend of Southern magic, charm, historical details, and family bonds, THE VANISHING OF JOSEPHINE REYNOLDS is a beautifully told story of courage, resilience, self-discovery, and second chances.
Audiobook...
I enjoyed reading the book and listening to the audiobook performed by one of my favorite narrators, Kathleen McInerney, @theveronicat a perfect voice for this Southern gem. The magic, history, and vivid descriptions come alive as the characters with an engaging performance, ensuring an entertaining and immersive experience. I highly recommend the audiobook. (I love Kathleen/MKA audiobooks).
About...
Josephine Reynolds, a 35-year-old widow, finds herself at a crossroads after her husband Nathan's death. It has been six months, and she is still grieving. She had lost herself in their marriage, giving up her friends, preferences, and identity to fit into his world.
Her sister Katherine suggested she sell the house and move elsewhere to start over fresh. Then they found their grandmother's house in Nashville was being foreclosed, and she decided to buy and renovate it.
The historical Victorian home in Belle Meade, The Carter Mansion, was a wedding gift to her great-grandmother Alma when she married in 1916. She had not been inside the house since childhood, but the photographs resurrected those memories.
First, she finds what appears as a speakeasy in the basement, and then she goes to replace the front door with an original one and finds herself transported back to 1927 and the magical era of the roaring 20s, where she meets her great-grandmother Alma, a daring woman running an illegal speakeasy in the basement.
What happens next transports readers to another time and the what ifs? Josephine must race against time to rewrite history to save Alma and her future, where the past and present collide.
My thoughts...
CAPTIVATING! I loved this charming story of Josephine Reynolds and her great-grandmother Alma. Altgough I am typically not a fan of time travel I found this one a delight! I adore historic homes and the 1920s!
The drama builds with each page, and I could not wait to see how it would turn out. A seamless blend of choices and chances celebrates the enduring spirit of women. Memorable, atmospheric, nostalgic, suspenseful, and mysterious, with an unforgettable heroine.
With parallel timelines, Josephine faces decisions in the present and the lush Jazz Age of the 1920s. I enjoyed the present with Josephine, her mom, and her sister, as well as the 1920s timeline with all its prohibition, speakeasy, scenery, drama, vivid descriptions, and fashion.
Heartwarming! The author opens the door to possibilities and offers readers a perfect blending of Southern, literary, and historical fiction, romance, coming-of-age, time travel, and some magic! From self-discovery, loss, love, and second chances! A testament to family ties and the power of love.
This is my first book by the author, and I cannot wait to read more!
Recs...
This is for fans of the author and those who enjoy Sarah Addison Allen, Sarah Jio, Rea Frey, Patti Callahan Henry, Karen White, Matt Haig, and Meg Shaffer.
A special thank you to Harper Muse and Harper Collins Focus for an ALC and ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Jan 14, 2025
Praise
"The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds drips with lush Jazz Age detail, a vivid cast of characters, and a protagonist whose future literally depends on her ability to navigate the past."
--Barbara Davis, bestselling author of The Echo of Old Books
"Moorman delivers a heartwarming story of love, loss, and time travel . . . readers will be captivated by Moorman's lovely descriptions of the 1920s." -
-Publishers Weekly
"Part fantasy, part romance, part coming-of-age story, this sweetly told tale of a woman's search for her true self is imbued with Moorman's trademark touch of magic."
--Kirkus
'An ancestral home holds stories, secrets, and maybe even the ability to rewrite history in Jennifer Moorman's latest enthralling must-read. THE VANISHING OF JOSEPHINE REYNOLDS seamlessly blends the present day with 1927--and a splash of Moorman's signature magic--in a moving, unputdownable race against time. A testament to family ties, the power of love, and the indomitable human spirit, Moorman's latest proves that, sometimes, the impossible can become possible. I was hooked from the very first enchanting page.'
-- Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of A HAPPIER LIFE
'In THE VANISHING OF JOSEPHINE REYNOLDS, Moorman deftly weaves her trademark everyday magic into a tale of time travel, mystery, and romance. At the heart of the story is Josephine, a young woman so stricken by grief that she wishes to no longer exist. Transported to the 1920s when she passes through a magical door, Josephine has one last chance at life--if she can find the courage to live and love again.'
-- Kerry Anne King, bestselling author of IMPROBABLY YOURS
'In this magic-tinged novel, time travel to the Prohibition era gives a grieving woman a way to change her life and save her family . . . Part fantasy, part romance, part coming-of-age story, this sweetly told tale of a woman's search for her true self is imbued with Moorman's trademark touch of magic. A delightful heroine jumps into the past in order to embrace her future.' -
- KIRKUS
'Jennifer Moorman charms readers again with this time-traveling delight. Join Josephine Reynolds as she visits the 1920s, trying to right a wrong that set into motion a series of life-threatening events. Fanciful and fast-paced, THE VANISHING OF JOSEPHINE REYNOLDS is another winner for Moorman.'
-- Elizabeth Bass Parman, author of THE EMPRESS OF COOKE COUNTY
'Moorman (THE MAGIC ALL AROUND) delivers a heartwarming story of love, loss, and time travel . . . readers will be captivated by Moorman's lovely descriptions of the 1920s. It's sweet and comforting reading.'
-- Publishers Weekly
'THE VANISHING OF JOSEPHINE REYNOLDS charms all the way from the enchanted door and its whispered passwords to the raucous speakeasy. It is impossible not to root for Josephine as she fights against the sands of time--and her own vanishing--to save her family and unearth her truest self in the process. Jennifer Moorman shines.'
-- Grace Helena Walz, author of SOUTHERN BY DESIGN
'THE VANISHING OF JOSEPHINE REYNOLDS drips with lush Jazz Age detail, a vivid cast of characters, and a protagonist whose future literally depends on her ability to navigate the past. In one novel, Jennifer Moorman gives us a time-bending tale of both suspense and self-discovery and a heroine we can't help but cheer as she learns what she's truly made of--and perhaps, how to love again.'
- Barbara Davis, bestselling author of THE ECHO OF OLD BOOKS
'THE VANISHING OF JOSEPHINE REYNOLDS is absolutely mesmerizing! Jennifer Moorman expertly weaves a story of time travel, suspense, love, and the 1920s into a book with twists and turns and an ending I never saw coming. I stayed up WAY too late for too many nights simply because I couldn't put it down. It's magnificent!'
-- Maddie Dawson, bestselling author of LET'S PRETEND THIS WILL WORK
'This twisty, intriguing tale is brimming with atmosphere, heartbreak, magic, and ultimately a bright spark of hope!' -- Rachel Linden, bestselling author of THE MAGIC OF LEMON DROP PIE
'With rich descriptions of scenery, fashion, and characters, Moorman creates a vivid portrayal of the Jazz Age. She blends history and magical realism seamlessly in this absolute treasure of a book.' -
- Booklist
About the Author
Jennifer Moorman writes enchanting novels inspired by the everyday magic and whimsy in the world around her. She is the bestselling author of the magical realism Mystic Water series, The Baker’s Man, and The Magic All Around.
Born and raised in Southern Georgia, Jennifer has a deep love for nature, a fondness for honeysuckle, and childhood memories of whippoorwills singing her to sleep. She is a foodie, a self-taught baker, and has a travel bag ready for her next adventure. She can always be won over with chocolate, unicorns, or rainbows.
When she’s not writing, you can find her testing a new recipe, chasing rainbows, or stargazing. She lives in a magic house in Nashville, Tennessee. Connect with Jennifer at jennifermoorman.com; Instagram: @jenniferRmoorman; Facebook: @jennifermoormanbooks; and BookBub: @JenniferMoorman.
