A review by lovelymisanthrope
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

challenging emotional lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I read this as part of a book club with a friend. "Every Heart a Doorway" has been on my radar for a while now because of how much I enjoy BooksandLala's content, and I was not disappointed!  Children find doorways all the time that lead to magical worlds, sometimes they are sweet and full of fairies and candy, sometimes they are dark and better left forgotten. This book follows Nancy; a young girl who has just returned from a different world. Nancy's door led her to a dark realm, but she very much wishes to return. Her parents have sent her to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children, a place where these temporarily displaced children can find their footing in reality once more. 
This book has a beautiful message about belonging and how necessary it is to feel valued and important. These lost children so desperately want to find their doorways again because these alternate worlds are where they feel the most at home. Life can be so challenging when you feel like you do not belong, and I loved seeing this as a message, but not done in a way that is so heavy handed. 
This is a very short, quick read, but one that definitely leaves an impression. I am excited to continue in this series and see what the next child's doorway was like! 
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