This book is not about a dollhouse per we. It's about a special minuscule mansion and the woman who takes care of it. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so will share instead how this book made me feel.

The books is told from multiple points of view and switches frequently from present to past. The flashbacks to the past are puzzle pieces helping us better understand what's occurring in the present. There's a sense of mythology, storytelling, and mystery. There are also themes of family, friendship, regret, loss, resilience, and forgiveness.

Alex and Maya connect because of her blog about the mansion and they also Connect (capital C ) as they try and unravel secrets and figure out how they are connected. I loved the multiple storylines and connections as well as the ongoing seeking and searching for connection and groundedness.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy. All opinions are my own.

thank you to netgalley and berkley publishing group for the advanced reading copy of The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone by Audrey Burges. This was not too long but a feel good story. I think it is a great read for anyone in need of a refreshing break from high adventure fantasy etc.

This is a rare case where flashing back and forth between multiple time periods actually worked for me, even if I still ended up preferring timeline over the other. At its best, The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone reminds me of John Steinbeck's haunting East of Eden — and even at it's worst, it's still a darn good book, full of whimsy and heart. If I never quite fell in love with the modern protagonists' and their story the way I did with Willa's tale, that's entirely a reflection on my own taste, I'm sure. If you're looking for something engaging and different, this is worth picking up. My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone. A very different story from any that I've read before; I'm not one to really enjoy this genre on a typical basis, but the book description captured my imagination, and I'm really glad I read this one! I've seen it described by another reader as "quietly lovely" and I think that might be the most apt phrase for describing this gentle story of a woman reaching ever so tentatively out to the rest of the world, with the "help" of her best friend, and her connection to a man across the country.

This one was a solid three for me. It had a wonderful intergenerational tale and several adorable romantic plotlines. There was a bit to much unsaid when it came to explaining the mystery of Alex's grandmother. The way that Burges developed the character Trixe was delightful. I adored the short but everlasting relationship between Trixie and little Myra. Myra seemed to be a poster child for all who work at home, whether by choice or by circumstance. The revelations regarding her situation and how it impacted her family were somewhat expected but well done. This was a slow burner for me but I enjoyed it.

This was a great book to curl up inside with while raining outside. Cozy. I love the idea of the dollhouse/mansion as microcosm to not only the protagonist's world, but the outside world. The settings were rich and in particular, I loved the secondary characters, Myra's mother, her grandparents, Alex's family, etc. Without spending too much time with those characters, Burges was able to give a full experience of people and their lives.

I greatly enjoyed this book. It was so whimsical and fantastic, with a sincere charm. I loved the dual narratives, the back-and-forth between the past and the (more or less) present, the little blog posts thrown in here and there. One thing I did not like, however, was how rushed it felt toward the end--it felt a little corny too, when Alex comes to his realization and relates it to Myra the moment it happens (when you read it, you'll know). But it still fits rather well into the story and how things have happened up til then, so I'll give it a pass.

This is one of those stories that I wish to see in many forms and I do hope it one day becomes a movie or mini-series (pun intended). Definitely worth checking out.

I've been on a "magical realism" reading kick lately and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I am also obsessed with miniature and dollhouses, and it was a unique story with quirky characters, so even more boxes were ticked.

This book is about love, hope, dreams, forgiveness, and magic. I loved Myra. and was happy she had Gwen, who never gave up on her. and pushed her. As more details of the story emerged, I had my ideas about what was going to happen and who was who and I was happy I was right. Sometimes with some books, mostly mysteries, you want things to not be "obvious" and you want to be surprised, but sometimes you just want the story make you happy, whether it's a happy ending or not.

I loved this book. The author can write dialogue well and creates likeable characters, and even the ones you don't like, you can understand why they're the way they are.

I can't wait to read more by this author. It's perfect for fans of such authors as Sarah Addison Allen and Charlie N. Holmberg. I hope you love it, too!

My only complaint about the book, and this isn't on the author, is that the emails between Alex and Myra should have been presented differently, either in an italic or different font, Sometimes they started mid-paragraph and it was a little confusing.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are mine and freely given.

This is a story about Myra Malone and the miniature, magical mansion she inherits and how, through urging and encouragement of her friend, gains an immense and loyal online following of individuals enraptured by the attention to detail, the whimsy of the mansion’s decor, and most of all, the stories shared by the reclusive Myra through the online forum.
It’s also a story of the Rakes family. Alex Rakes is a third-generation furniture collector and salesman has a difficult relationship with his Father, Rutherford Rakes. Alex stumbles across Myra’s website during a sales interaction, and is baffled to find that the mansion that Myra curates and decorates is a mirror-image of the Rakes family mansion that his Father has despised his entire life.
Alex and Myra become intertwined, piecing together the history of their families that have brought them to this place, and healing wounds caused by the past by pushing each other’s boundaries and being vulnerable together.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and found it to be such a whimsical and enchanting story. The history of the Rakes family was incredible heartbreaking, and I loved how the author tied the emotions of that history so closely to the mansion, as well as to the struggles and emotions demonstrated in Alex and Myra.
I wanted a little bit more about the history of the minuscule mansion, and how it came to be when I finished the book. I think a little more of that history would have served the reader well in putting the final pieces into place in this story that demands quite a bit of connecting-the-dots work of the reader.

Overall, this was a fun read. I loved the overall tone and ambience throughout the book, and really did love the characters (the ✨mansion✨most especially!).

Wow. I didn't really know what to expect with this book when I first picked it up, but I was immediately intrigued by the premise. Of course the beautiful cover caught my attention--but the words on the page really drew me in. Audrey's writing was so lovely. The words flowed on the page, allowing my mind to envision all of the nooks and crannies of Myra's mansion (NOT her dollhouse). I found myself quickly turning pages because I needed answers to all of my questions ASAP, such as how to Myra become a recluse? How did she get that amazing mansion? How was it possible that Alex lived in the IRL version of the house?!?!?! Thank you to Audrey for the advanced copy! Such a lovely read.

what a fun and delicious read!! this was amazing and wonderful and i'm so thankful to netgalley for letting me read this one early! what a blessing! i love reading!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

I wish I had understood that The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone was magical realism prior to requesting the book. This genre is one of which "I just don't get" and did not finish.

3.5 stars out of respect for the author and the fact that The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone was not written for me. I leave this review with the hope that others find it to be an enjoyable experience!

One Sentence Summary: Myra has spent a lifetime decorating and redecorating a miniature mansion, drawing thousands and millions to her blog, but she’s missing a major component to the story until Alex waltzes into her life and tells her he lives in the real mansion.

My thoughts:

The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone is the kind of story I love. It’s magical and soft with a sweet love story wrapped in the middle. Some family drama that goes back a few generations was some added tension, and the new problems Myra and her mother face just pile more on top. Unfortunately, I found the story a bit too predictable, so the only thing my mind latched onto was how, exactly, the mini and big mansions were connected. I really, really wanted to know how it worked, but this was much less about that and much more about a family trying to heal itself through love, considering what seems like what should be a big reveal was easy to see ten miles away and I just couldn’t slog through all the backstory anymore at some point.

First of all, I had a hard time getting into the story in the first place. There’s a constant shift in time lines and they just felt like they were coming out of nowhere at me at the beginning. The description didn’t allude to a woman from decades ago being a key character, so I was left feeling a little blindsided by the constant switching back and forth in history. It was disorienting and took me at least a quarter of the book for me to catch up, and then how to keep teh shifting years for three different people straight. Unfortunately, how the characters tied together was way too predictable and I felt like it was incredibly dragged out. There’s almost too much information I didn’t feel to be particularly necessary to tell the story, so I felt like I was reading a lot of padding and fluff. It also felt like a commentary on raising children who are unlike their parents, so I wasn’t quite sure if this was supposed to be about parent-child relationships or the incredible connection between Myra and Alex.

Myra and Alex are another component I struggled with. Myra just felt like a sad character. On one hand, I could kind of understand her position, but it also made it all seem very superficial. She was just stuck and unwilling to budge, which made me irritated with her at times. I was more fascinated with her minuscule mansion and her best friend Gwen. And thank goodness she had both otherwise I’m not sure if I could have stood to read her story. Alex, on the other hand, was absolutely lovely. I adored him. Except for the part where he falls into family patterns and gets stuck helping out with the family business when he’d really rather not be doing it. It was hard to feel for him because he got out once and seemed to be unable to get out again. His character was interesting, though, and a lot of fun to read. Myra and Alex’s correspondence relationship was sweet, but so dragged out that, when they did meet, their relationship just took off like a shot and I felt like I got whiplash from it all.

The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone, unfortunately, didn’t quite explain what I wanted to be explained. I’m no clearer on how the mansions worked together than I was before I started reading. I just got a lot of crazy family drama, a shut-in, and weird houses that work in tandem because there’s some magic underlying them, and I guess magic explains everything? Parts of this were sweet, but I just couldn’t get into the story, mostly because none of my burning questions were adequately answered.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was eager to the bottom of why Myra wouldn’t leave her house and I also wondered how the two mansions, one doll-sized and the other Alex’s home were connected. Myra and Alex fall for each other gradually as they get to know each other through their emails and phone conversations. Willa and Ford’s romance in the past was sad but was necessary to for everything to come together.

This enjoyable story was magical and refreshingly different!

“As for Valentine’s Day, what better room than the library? Bookcases full of every possible kind of love, in addition to the love of words themselves. What better place for hearts and passion than a roomful of books?”

After suffering horrible injuries in a car accident when she was 5 — an event that took the life of her beloved step-grandmother Trixie — Myra Malone has spent the next three decades shut inside her house, refusing to venture out into the world.

Her one passion is a large dollhouse (though *never* refer to it as a dollhouse). She’s spent her life lovingly caring for it, decorating and redecorating the rooms (some seem to appear overnight and just as suddenly vanish). After her best friend launches a blog, The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone, fans the world over flock to the site, eagerly awaiting each new post, delighting in every new photo. Some fans even send packages, hoping for a chance to see their teapot featured on a shelf or a tiny knitted blanket draped on the sofa.

Myra always knew there was something different, something magical about the mansion, but she never expected the email from Alex Rakes, a man who claims the mansion exists in real life…and that it’s his home.

THE MINUSCULE MANSION OF MYRA MALONE feels like curling up next to a fire. It’s a cozy, whimsical tale spanning a century as it bounces between the lives of Myra, Alex, and Alex’s grandmother Willa. Lonely people finding each other is the backbone of this story (though I will admit some of the characters’ chemistry just wasn’t there for me). I wish the magical element had been explored more — I really loved the premise but its execution fell a bit flat. This could have easily worked as a family saga (there’s plenty of generational trauma in these pages) or a fantasy or a contemporary romance. As all three, however, there was something lacking. I did enjoy my time spent with this one, but I wanted to love it more than I did.

4.5 So Charming Stars
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
Oh, this book captured me from the start. It presented so much in the blurb that I had an idea of where it was going...and I didn't care one bit, as I could not stop reading it.

This is something you need to buy in and then enjoy the ride. I certainly did.

This is a really sweet story with a great premise, and recommended reading if you need a bit of a pick me up.

I love dollhouses and miniatures, so I loved the unique spin on those things that builds the bones of this story. The idea of a dollhouse that corresponds eerily to a real house and what happens inside it was such a terrific concept, though be forewarned, this is very much rooted in Magical Realism, which doesn’t become apparent until partway through the book.

I liked both Myra and Alex, though the shut-in stuff is a bit shopworn and angsty for my taste. I liked the first half of the book better than the second, mostly because the story veers off into something akin to tragedy porn and then ties up just a bit too neatly in the end, all of which leaves the reader feeling a bit jerked around. If you like emotional roller coaster books or tearjerkers, you likely won’t be as bothered by this as I was.

It’s definitely a better story in concept than in execution, though I put some of my issues with the execution down to taste. Either way, it’s a worthy read for concept, creativity, and detail.

This story takes place over multiple generations of a family. It centers on a tiny mansion that has been passed down and which is a replica of a mansion. Myra is the current owner and the tragic circumstances that resulted in her ownership have left lasting marks on her body & mind.

After becoming a recluse, and through encouragement from her friend, she starts a blog which shares the minuscule mansion with the world. Is it possible to only share the mansion, or in doing so will she be sharing an intimate part of herself? Could that intimacy expand her world or will it isolate her even more? Does the mansion hold secrets to the past or is it just a single woman’s beloved hobby? Welcome to The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this ARC. This is my honest review.

The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone is a charming book of magical realism. I quickly became endured to the characters and was eager to find out what would happen. The story goes back and forth in time to tell the story of the characters and the mansion. Full of romance and magic, I highly recommend reading The Miniscule Mansion of Myra Malone!

What a wonderful and delightful read! The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone by Audrey Burges such a fun book. A bit of magical realism, romance, and a story that crosses decades – and a miniature mansion (NOT a dollhouse – iykyk) with all of the wonderful miniature everything as a part of it come alive as soon as you start reading!

Myra Malone is a 34 year-old internet sensation – but she is also a recluse. The world knows of her through her stories that she posts, as well as images of the rooms of the minuscule mansion.

She brings the mansion alive by weaving stories and creating the most perfect miniature everything for her mansion. Her friend Gwen is a genius marketer and helps her with the marketing so for a recluse, Myra is able to earn her keep in the world without being seen.

🪄Across the country a young man named Alex hears of, and sees images of, Myra’s minuscule mansion and he realizes – he lives in it! How is it possible? How does she own a mini mansion that is a small scale replica of his home/mansion? Why does his father want him out of the mansion? Why do both Myra and Alex feel as though their respective homes speak to them.

You HAVE to read this – romance, mystery, magical realism – it’s so great!

Thank you @berkleypub, @letstalkbookspromo, @dg_reads and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this gifted arc and for the buddy read! Highly recommend curling up with a cup of hot tea or coffee and losing yourself in this wonderful story!


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