This book had the fatal flaw for me of having one timeline that I did not care about at all, which is how to make a book drag instead of bop along. A great concept, and I loved the twist that came about a quarter of the way through, but it fell flat after that. Not emotional enough for women's fiction, not romantic enough for a romance.

A Minuscule Mansion is not a dollhouse and this story is not a fairytale but it feels like one, under the current in the mystery and magic that connects people to places.

There was something about how the genres mixed in this one that just felt super off to me. It felt like it was two books smash-cut together at times.

This book is a delight in every single way even though it deals with some heavy subject matters. Myra has never left her house since an accident when she was 6. Her life is this “dollhouse” that shifts as its mood warrants. Her life expands as her friend Gwen decides to market Myra and the Minuscule Mansion and it will force her to make some hard decisions.

What I feel for this book is hard to express but to will be a favorite in 2023 and highly recommended by me.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Audrey Burges, and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was a sweet little read! If you like cozy books, this is definitely the read for you. I could easily see this being a pick for lots of book clubs of older women lol and that's not a bad thing! The premise is interesting and filled with magical realism. Burges' descriptions are lovely and make me wish that I could see the minuscule mansion myself. However, it was just a bit too "cutesy" for me. I didn't feel that the magic elements were well-explained enough for my personal tastes, and I could have done without a romance plot line. Myra also annoyed me with just how reclusive she was, as I got tired of reading about her refusing to go anywhere and people just putting up with it. It was a pleasant reading experience overall, and I think it would be great to read in the fall with a nice cup of tea.

I love stories that incorporate magical realism because it makes all of my childhood dreams feel a little more tangible. The romantic element was also a huge standout for me. The way Audrey Burges ties these two characters together was as real as it was magical. I’ve read a romance novel or two in my life, but the shy way Alex and Myra circle each other gave me the most intense butterflies. The first moment they actually speak had me grinning ear to ear, and every time they had to overcome another obstacle, my stomach was in knots. I have not been this invested in a relationship in such a long time, and it was a breath of fresh air.

One of the most interesting aspects of this book was how its scope broadened over time. At first, we only have chapters from Myra’s point of view, some of which are present day and others from when she was a child. Next, Alex gets thrown into the mix, and we experience the mansion from another angle. And then another perspective joins these two, and we go even further back in time to learn about the history of this home. This keeps happening until the full picture is finally revealed.

There is a big story contained within these pages, one that spans across generations. As much as the magic adds an extra sparkle to these pages, the true heart of The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone is held in the hands of two families, forever connected. Love and loss are an inevitable part of life, and they are the hallmarks of this book. But even as some lives fade from our world, new ones take their place. The end of this book left me hopeful and content.

This book wasn't the same old story line I've been generally reading. It's a bit of a love story, but not your typical Hallmark ready plot. Which, to me, made it all the better.

Poor Myra. She's had a rough life but the few people in it have been good and she's enjoyed them. I don't want to give away why, but she's very self-isolating. She's not willing to meet new people or go out. Sadly, she's lost three of the people closest to her, two permanently. Funny, that then she should end up an internet sensation. The minuscule mansion is her passion. She decorates it and writes about it and with her friend's prodding has become a huge hit.

Alex's life hasn't been hard in the same ways as Myra's but it's not been idyllic either. We learn a lot about his past and his father's and it's all interesting. Then one day he realizes that Myra's mansion has inexplicable ties to his actual home. He contacts her and it takes massive effort for Myra to return his messages. Once they do start corresponding they get alone so well. A relationship, although unconventional, develops and deepens. When Alex wants to meet, Myra is beside herself. Can she get over her anxiety? Can he win her heart? Can they explain the seemingly unexplainable and impossible?

This story is unique and interesting throughout. It's part social anxiety, part paranormal and part love story.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I was that kid...

I wore frilly dresses and socks, I referred to my dolls as "my babies", and most importantly, I had a beautifully maintained dollhouse that I had to double check nightly to make sure there wasn't even so much as a chair out of place.

As an adult looking back on this mockery, I have chills up my spine. I was one heck of a creepy kid.

Now that I have provided you with some unnecessary information about myself, lets talk about The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone.

This book is NOT creepy, not by any means.

This was my first book by Audrey Burges, but I can say the narration of this book was done with perfection, characters are both lovable and heart warming, and the magic this book holds glitters across every page as the words sparkle before your eyes. I was instantly captivated by the first chapter.

There are elements of love, loss and family. All of this ties together to give us an easy five star read.

This was a book that sparked my imagination and lit up my soul.

Here is a bit of a teaser :

From her attic in the Arizona mountains, thirty-four-year-old Myra Malone blogs about a dollhouse mansion that captivates thousands of readers worldwide. Myra’s stories have created legions of fans who breathlessly await every blog post, trade photographs of Mansion-modeled rooms, and swap theories about the enigmatic and reclusive author. Myra herself is tethered to the Mansion by mysteries she can’t understand—rooms that appear and disappear overnight, music that plays in its corridors.

Across the country, Alex Rakes, the scion of a custom furniture business, encounters two Mansion fans trying to recreate a room. The pair show him the Minuscule Mansion, and Alex is shocked to recognize a reflection of his own life mirrored back to him in minute scale. The room is his own bedroom, and the Mansion is his family’s home, handed down from the grandmother who disappeared mysteriously when Alex was a child. Searching for answers, Alex begins corresponding with Myra. Together, the two unwind the lonely paths of their twin worlds—big and small—and trace the stories that entwine them, setting the stage for a meeting rooted in loss, but defined by love.

I love some magical realism, so I jumped at the chance to read The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone, by Audrey Burges. Thank you @berkleypub for the free #giftedbook! This book is available now!

Myra Malone, a 34 year old woman, spends her days alone in the attic decorating and blogging about her (not a dollhouse) mansion. The Mansion has secrets, and a magic to it: rooms and furniture that appear and disappear, mysterious music, and it seems to talk to Myra in a way, telling her what it needs or wants.

Alex, while working at his father’s furniture warehouse, discovers her blog and realized that the Mansion is an exact replica of his home. He contacts Myra and the begin a correspondence that will create and answer questions, and tell the story of both the big and minuscule mansion.

We also get flashback chapters, giving us more of a history of the Mansions (both big and small) and explanations of how both Myra and Alex are tied to them, and together.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, although it didn’t have that ‘unputdownability’ that I was hoping for. I loved the descriptions of the Mansion and furniture pieces, and also the chapters about Willa. I will say that I felt some things weren’t explained enough at the end. Overall, this was a fun magical read, and I’ll definitely look forward to more from this author!

Take a little bit of history, mystery, and just the RIGHT amount of magical realism and what a treat The Minuscule Mansion was to devour. The pacing was perfect and the mystery of the story unfolds slowly throughout - I was hooked from the very beginning and loved the alternating points of view and the additions of Myra's blog posts throughout. I only wish I could've seen the mansion itself, but I suppose that's the point and the beauty of it all - it was exactly what those seeking refuge needed it to be.

A woman blogs about a magic dollhouse while she is beset with anxiety - a past accident - death - current connection over the dollhouse

The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone was a unique story about an enormous dollhouse, but don’t let the main character hear you call it that, to her, it was her mansion, her mission and her passion. This book’s genre falls into a mix of contemporary fiction peppered with magical realism.

Myra, the main character, struggles with agoraphobia, so to make her small world bigger, she blogs and posts pictures of each room’s décor in every stage of its creation. She is creative with an amazing eye, so her photos and stories she shares become incredibly popular. When Alex, who works in a furniture store is confronted by a customer to make a full size item of something she saw in miniature on Myra’s blog, Alex’s world turns upside down. He has actually seen the item the customer is looking for in his grandmother’s estate. It’s at this point that Alex and Myra strike up a correspondence.

How Myra and Alex connect, Myra’s relationship with her step-grandma Trixie, her love for her grandfather and BFF Gwen combined with Alex’s missing grandmother and poor relationship with his own father are all explored as the story progresses.

This is a sweet book that reminds the reader that looks and imperfections don’t make the person; it’s their hearts and souls that matter. It’s also a testament to the importance of grandparents and the pivotal role they can play in their grandchildren’s lives.

As a child I loved playing with my dollhouse, so I enjoyed the bones of the story. There were a few moments when I thought the connection between the three storylines got stretched, but it was a minor flaw at best. I look forward to see what else comes from this author.

I have mixed feelings on this book. I loved the original idea, and I initially got really pulled into this story. It was a slow start, but the world building was worth waiting for. Myra's story is a sad one her past trauma led her to live a reclusive life, one she really didn't want to change. Her mother due to her own trauma mismanaged money, so they are facing the possibility of losing their home. I can only imagine how traumatic that would be for someone who struggles with leaving their house.

Then we have Alex, who recognized Myra's minuscule mansion from her blog as being an exact replica of his own home. Alex has had his own troubled past, with an absent (step) mother, and a father who was emotionally unavailable Alex had to learn to take care of himself in tough situations early on.

I found both characters likeable and relatable, and their stories having both familiar and unique qualities. Overall I found the book to be predictable though, which is unusual for me. The foreshadowing was strong with this one. I was able to figure out the big mysteries way before they were revealed, which lead to a somewhat lower rating. 3.5 stars...

I was intrigued by this concept form it’s initial announcements, but it ultimately fell super flat and was unable to support the concept

What a unique and charming story!! Myra Malone has a blog about her miniature mansion. It was given to her by her grandfather and belonged to her step-grandmother. Myra is the caretaker of this dollhouse, but things happen that she can't explain. Rooms appear and disappear and music at times spontaneously can be heard.

Across the country we meet Alex Rakes working in his family's furniture company. He views photos of Myra's Miniscule Mansion blog and is shocked to see it is the exact replica of his grandmother's home.

Alex and Myra work to unravel the mystery of these homes and how they are connected.

This was such a charming and unique story. I am also a sucker for any hints of magical realism.

The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone is a fantasy/romance magical realism fable set in dual timelines by Audrey Burges. Released 24th Jan 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a nicely written, eminently readable story full of small and large magics, with whimsy and romance, and tragedy sprinkled liberally throughout. The plot is meandering and often doubles back on itself and the whole relies mostly on the well rendered characters to carry the story. I was intrigued by the story of a real-life genius loci in rural Virginia which has a mirrored miniature focus (don't call it a dollhouse) in the possession of a reclusive young woman in Arizona.

It's partly a family dynasty story with archetypal antagonists in the form of a rigid and cruel clan matriarch & patriarch. I found some of the chapters set in the past timeline rather meandering and unclear, contrasted with the crisply modern chapters in the current timeline. It seems likely that the differences in writing style were conscious on the author's part. The language is relatively clean, and there's nothing graphic. There are some discussions of death and mental illness/suicide ideation/PTSD but nothing which would likely be triggering for most readers.

Well written, likely more appealing for YA/NA readers. It's self contained in this volume, and the denouement and resolution are satisfying and complete (though somewhat open ended, leaving the possibility for a sequel).

Four stars. An oddly whimsical read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I really wanted to love this, and I normally love different timelines woven together, but these felt thrown rather than woven. There were so many different threads that never quite made it into one piece, and the story fell a little flat because of the structure.

Short synopsis: A family saga spanning generations. A miniature mansion (not to be confused with a house) that Myra posts pictures online and tells stories about.

My thought: Wow, I cruised through this one in just 24 hours. This is one I kind of wanted to hug at the end. Just so enchanting and charming!

The characters were just so lovable! Grandpa Lou and Trixie reminded me a bit of my own Grandparents and it made me miss them so bad!

I really liked how the story was told, from different points of view and different places in time. We got to slowly see how connections were made to this minuscule mansion.

Read if you love:
* Learning to love yourself
* Touches of magic
* Bit of romance
* Family saga
* Lovable characters

Thank you to Berkley for the #gifted finished copy of this book! I will treasure this story for years to come.

Myra Malone is an internet sensation. Her posts about her Minuscule Mansion (don't call it a dollhouse!) captivate readers who want to emulate its eclectic bohemian decorating style in their own life-sized homes. But Myra's world is as tiny as the house she writes about - she been hiding away in her family's cabin since a tragedy in her childhood. Meanwhile, across the country, Alex Rakes lives in an actual mansion identical to the one Myra features, and when the two connect, they form a friendship and uncover the truth behind the two mansions.

This charming book explores themes of love, loss and family. It's a slow burn with elements of magical realism that may not be for everyone, but I enjoyed the journey and unique premise. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook - the narration is terrific and adds so much to the story.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing for the copy to review.

Really couldn’t get into this one. Not enough magic as I was hoping. Love the premise but kind of boring and predictable unfortunately!