I got a good way through this book before I became quite bored. While the intrigue was very strong at the beginning I felt like I stopped carrying whether the girls made it through in this situation,. Definitely a disappointment.

Huge thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review!
Rating: 2.5/5

The summary of this book sounds riveting: secret-society-level company promises to turn aspiring actors into stardom, but (obviously) a seedy underbelly is exposed and things get dangerous for our main characters of past and present.

But it just...didn't hit the way it should. The writing is plain, but instead of allowing this to build tension and have me flying through the pages, it just left me wishing there were more. More description, nuance, character building, etc. We have the POV of Ivy Gordon, whose diary entries lead up to present day, and the POV of Ramona, a modern attendee of Dahlen Academy. Their narration styles are pretty much identical. In fact, their plotlines hit so many of the same beats that I did have to go back a time or two to check whose head I was in for the chapter I was currently reading.

There are a few scattered love interests, both for Ivy and Ramona, and I didn't care about a single one of them. They were written as quite flat characters, I didn't think romantic tension was sufficiently built, and I didn't root for one relationship over another. There's an attempt for one relationship to be motivation, and I just didn't feel the emotional impact. It felt like the character saying "this devastated me," and me hunting for the evidence that they were, in fact, devastated.

I also kept waiting for the plot to GO THERE. The plot seemed to be hinting at a speculative twist (evil clones? A sudden turn into supernatural body horror?) and despite the lack of this genre listed on review websites for this title, I couldn't help but hope that something special would surprise me.

And finally, the ending (commentary in spoiler tags in the attached review links)

Overall, I think I let myself down by the potential ways the plot would go, and when it played it relatively safe, and the characters remained uncomplex, I couldn't see myself rating this one high.

Another great book from Margarita Montimore. I loved following the story of Ramona and Grace, how their shared dream became something different for each of them. I loved the dark story of the Hollywood machine. The stories, the manipulation, the cut-throat environment, all made for an entertaining read. The only thing I wanted was a slightly more sinister ending.
4.5 stars rounded up.

Margarita Montimore always hits the right notes for me! This was my third book by her, and I enjoyed it nearly as much as Oona Out of Order and Acts of Violet. The Dollhouse Academy is set in the late 1990s, Ramona and Grace are best friends living in New York and pursuing acting. They get their big break when they are invited to join the Dollhouse Academy, an acting academy for a production company that is its own entertainment microcosm.

The renowned studio releases a variety of successful and well-crafted movies, television series, and musical albums. I hadn’t really been aware of this, but it is based on the old studio system, where its actor’s careers are completely controlled by the studio. Though prestigious, the production company is shrouded in mystery. I found the focus on friendship, ambition, and the price of fame very intriguing. I listened to the audiobook, which is fabulously narrated by Brittany Pressley as the main narrator and Xe Sands who narrates short letters interspersed in the text.

Thank you Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing this ebook and audiobook ARC. All thoughts are my own.

This is an experience - at once nostalgic and fresh - how far would you go, and who would you become, for fame? And what does it mean when the role you play becomes bigger than you, and what steps would be taken to ensure it continues?

The Dollhouse Academy takes place in the late 90s - the academy itself is the training rounds for Dahlen Entertainment, a powerhouse for every kind of media imaginable, and a place where people with talent can be honed and shaped into what will bring them fame and attention. Inspired by interviews with child actors who are now adults, it provides answers to questions I never even knew to ask, and carves at that strange societal phenomenon of obsession with being famous, with thinking being watched is the same as being seen.

Ramona is a great lead, at once talented and wanting to perform, but with a core of self-assurance that ultimately saves her.

Parts of the ending were a bit abrupt, and I was surprised when I was in the mid-90%s because it felt like there was so much more to know. This must've been a fascinating world to create, and one that's easier to disappear into. You'll be glad when you get out of the dollhouse though...not everyone can escape.

Ramona Halloway can’t believe her luck. She and her best friend, Grace, have landed spots at The Dollhouse Academy—Dahlen Entertainment’s elite talent incubator, the very place that shaped their idol, Ivy Gordon. Growing up glued to Dahlen’s flagship TV drama, In the Dollhouse, they dreamed of this moment. Now, they have the chance to train alongside industry legends and maybe even cross paths with Ivy herself.

But the dream isn’t quite what Ramona expected. Struggling to stand out, she watches Grace’s star rise while she flounders, envy gnawing at the edges of their friendship. She always said she’d do anything to make it—she just didn’t think it would cost her Grace's friendship.

Ivy, meanwhile, has spent eighteen years as Dahlen’s biggest star, and she knows better than anyone what the Academy demands from its performers. Through secret journal entries, she starts documenting the truth: the invasive medical exams, the mysterious supplements, the terrifying hold Dahlen has over her life. If she can’t break free of this gilded cage, what hope does she have of helping new talent like Ramona?

The Dollhouse Academy is a hard book to pin down—part dark academia, part psychological thriller, with a simmering sense of unease that only fully boils over in the final act. There’s even a touch of sci-fi, adding to its genre-blurring appeal. The slow-burn buildup kept me intrigued, but the resolution felt rushed, leaving the characters frustratingly close to where they started. A romantic subplot for Ramona also fell flat, adding little to the novel’s core themes.

There’s a lot to admire here—an eerie premise, compelling character dynamics, and sharp commentary on the cost of fame—but the ending left me wanting more. I just wish all that buildup had paid off in a more satisfying way.

This was a fun ride. Mixing dark academia, Hollywood pressure, and wonderful eighties and nineties settings, this book was really engaging. It went in a direction I was not at all anticipating.

Ivy Gordon has been living for eighteen years as a star with the Dollhouse Academy, an elite educational institution that trains elite and famous performers. While her life might look amazing, things are not as they seem, which she starts recording in a diary.

Ramona, along with her best friend, Grace, is accepted into the Dollhouse. As Grace experiences a meteoric rise to fame, Ramona starts to suspect that things at the Dollhouse are not what they seem.

This book was such a fun read. It was unsettling, ominous, suspenseful and I was hooked from page one. A look at the darker side of fame and ambition, The Dollhouse Academy was incredibly atmospheric in its world building and the characters were written so well. Both Ivy and Ramona were relatable and I was absolutely invested in them. I had such a hard time putting this book down and I was so excited to see where the story would take me. The social commentary on the entertainment industry was so well done. This book had major Clara Bow by Taylor Swift vibes. The ending was very ambiguous, BUT the mystery fit the story so well. I definitely want to pick up more books by this author!
TW: suicide, medical trauma, drug use, car accident

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for an advanced digital readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I wish I could clearly articulate what it is abut The Dollhouse Academy that just absolutely fascinated me right from the very first sentence, There's the friendship between Grace and Ramona, and there's the air of mystery around the Dollhouse Academy itself, but it all just comes together in a way that makes for a truly captivating read. As riveted as I was by Margarita Montimore's latest, I did find myself thinking ahead to the ending and how it might all resolve, but it was even more perfect than I could have imagined. For readers looking for the constant twists and reveals of a popcorn thriller, this might not be the book for you, but, for readers who love a well-crafted story with plenty of texture and plot, The Dollhouse Academy is for you.

Things are not what they seem in the Dollhouse Academy, an elite boarding school and talent incubator. Two friends win coveted invites to the Dollhouse that tests their ambition, friendship, and how far they are willing to go for fame. Aging star in her 30's, Ivy Gordon shares recollections of her haunting time at the Dollhouse. This tale will linger in your mind and have you rethinking celebrity culture. Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron for an advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Wow - this was not what I expected. In my mind, this was going to be like many of the stories we’ve seen lately of rich and famous stars and the abuse they put up with behind the scenes from those trying to puppeteer their careers.

However, what I got was something far more sinister as well as enthralling. A variable star making machine where aspiring actors, dancers, singers are brought in like cattle and tested and prodded until they either fall in line and do what they are told or they break. And if they’re too valuable to break, maybe no one will notice if it’s not really them any longer.

the dollhouse academy is an exploration of the dark side of fame set at an elite boarding school that creates—and controls—new stars. after nearly two decades, the dollhouse’s biggest star, ivy, begins to document the truth of her career; at the same time, best friends and aspiring actresses ramona and grace are recruited to the dollhouse, but quickly find themselves at odds when grace’s star rises while ramona’s career stalls.

i don’t typically read thrillers, so it’s difficult for me to rate this one. it was a quick, easy read, and i quite liked the concept overall; as one of the characters points out, it’s reminiscent of the studio system from the 1930s and 1940s, when studios controlled every aspect of the filmmaking process and kept talent locked down with longterm contracts. i suppose my complaint is that this didn’t read like much of a thriller, and the parts about fame and celebrity have been done so much better by other authors. yes, it’s an unsettling read, but it’s so predictable and i didn’t love the sci-fi twist at the end. isn’t the idea of a bunch of execs essentially owning stars unsettling enough without (view spoiler)?

also, where was the surveillance? the most unbelievable part of this book is that no one thought to install any hidden cameras.

This was an interesting book - the story weaved between different POV and timeframes, very well. But it lacked the oomph I was hoping for. It felt predictable and flat, when I expected a little more of that wow factor. Maybe it was just too far-fetched of a lifestyle for me to fully engage and love the book. The book takes place at the Dollhouse Academy, an elite boarding school for aspiring performers. It follows Ivy, who has spent 18 years at the Dollhouse, is ready to face the secrets of her life and the Dollhouse. Romona and Grace are best friends who have just been accepted to the Dollhouse. Romona has been receiving threatening messages while Grace is rising to fame. Can they all figure out what is going on before catastrophe hits? 
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copies.

Ramona and Grace are best friends who sing together. They are both ecstatic when they are invited to train at the competitive Dollhouse, that curates stars. Bug when they join, Ramona starts getting anonymous threatening messages and Grace starts taking off as a star.

I enjoyed the first part of this before they went to the Dollhouse and the start of their time there. Once it started getting weird, I couldn’t really follow. I did love the celebrity stuff and if you enjoy stories about young addresses and stardom, you may enjoy this one. The sci-Fi aspect behind it was a little out there and I ddint really get it.

“Why does it feel like it’s the Dollhouse or nothing? Because it is.”

The Dollhouse Academy comes out 2/11.

Thank you to @netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

So 25% in I was super stoked for how this story was going. A lot of build up and character building. I was entirely here for it. The premise was a combo of stepford wives and young Hollywood. Great combo for a plot. Then at 80% it felt like nothing was happening. The progression stopped and it got a bit repetitive.

The ending didn’t make it any better. It came down to the stroke of a pen, literally. Fell short and was disappointing after a good build up. This story had so much potential but the execution fell flat for me. Easy read but the ending was meh.

⭐️⭐️.75

A granted wish doesn't always look like you think it will

In 1998 the most popular show on television (and also the longest running primetime drama show ever) is In the Dollhouse; its star Ivy Gordon has portrayed the lead character Tabitha Noelle since its inception almost sixteen years earlier. It is the marquee property of the Dahlen Entertainment, a powerhouse founded and run by former child star Genevieve Spalding, which has grown to encompass not just TV but movies, music and more, as well as the famed Dollhouse Academy, an elite and highly secretive compound to which budding talents hope they will be invited. Just as Dahlen is known to produce the best shows, movies and albums around, those lucky enough to be invited to live and train at the Academy are far more likely to become not only successful entertainers but stars. When lifelong best friends and aspiring performers Ramona and Grace come to Genevieve's attention and are invited for a six month trial period, they are beyond ecstatic....and are more than happy to sign whatever paperwork and agree to whatever conditions are demanded. They quickly discover that succeeding at the Academy takes more than just possessing the potential of exceptional talent; they must pay strict attention to all those who are there to instruct them, follow directions completely and without question, and surrender to the star factory that is the Dollhouse Academy.. As their stay commences they find themselves growing apart, experiencing unequal levels of success and developing differing views on to what extent they can blindly conform. All is not as it seems at the compound, and each will have to weigh how much of themselves they are willing to give away in order to achieve the success they have long desired. What advice would Ivy Gordon, someone who exemplifies the rise to stardom they hope to emulate, give them....and would they listen to it if she did?
At its core this is a novel about the complex nature of friendship as well as a cautionary tale about the dark side of striving for fame. Combining elements of Glee, Fame, the Stepford Wives and Valley of the Dolls just to name a few, this is a twisty tale where dreams are undermined by insecurities, it is unclear who can be trusted, and a person would do well to remember that just because they are paranoid it doesn't mean that someone isn't out to get them. Ramona and Grace are two smart and ambitious young women, but the pressure cooker atmosphere of the Academy is quick to exacerbate their fears and weaknesses, making it easy for their close bond to be stretched to the breaking point. The enigmatic Genevieve claims that she conceived of the Academy to help vulnerable young talent avoid the dark elements of the entertainment world that she herself endured back in the day, but her words and her deeds do not always match up. Ivy's voice as she pens a diary of the path of her career form chapters between those narrated by Ramona, giving the reader a peek behind the curtain of this place that echoes the studio system of Hollywood in earlier times. Not all of the twists came as a complete surprise to me, but I found the book engaged my attention early and held it through till the end. Those who read and enjoyed Isabel Banda's "Honey" or Layne Fargo's "The Favorites" should give this story filled with jealousy, ambition, and the true cost of fame a try. My thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for allowing me access to a copy of The Dollhouse Academy in exchange for my honest review.

3 ⭐️

I will be honest. As far as thrillers go, this had zero thrills. This book was frankly dull and I am disappointed. I had hoped for a good dark academia mystery.

This book was an easy to follow, but I was almost 40% through the book when I realized all I had been reading was two narrators (two POVs) talk about acting. I understood that the plot would revolve around Hollywood and acting, but I didn't realize it would revolve around acting THAT much. At times, it felt like I was reading a memoir about an actress. It was repetitive: booking jobs, past acting roles, growing up as an actor, life as an actor, and what people are willing to do to score a role. If you have no interest in Hollywood or acting, this will not be a book for you. I expected something along the lines of "Mister Magic" by Kiersten White. This book was closer to a very long and boring version of “The Stepford Wives,” if the wives were actresses. The book seemed 100 pages too long.

There wasn't any hint of mystery until close to the end of the book when "Project Understudy" was mentioned. The twist wasn't very shocking and it was predictable as it had been hinted at many times earlier in the book. The book needed less acting and more thrill.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for early access to the ARC of this book! I truly appreciate the opportunity!

The Dollhouse Academy, the boarding school you want to be at if you want to make it big one day. Here you will learn everything you need to know about how to become a successful actress/actor. Grace and Ramona want to go to The Dollhouse Academy so bad and one day be in the tv show In The Dollhouse. They finally secure their spots, but is everything as it seems. They are put through medical tests, frightening protocols, assessments, separated, and eventually end up against each other instead of staying best friends. Is the Dollhouse Academy everything they want and more???

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. I found myself upset for Grace and Ramona throughout the book and wanting to know more about The Dollhouse Academy and In The Dollhouse. Montimore did such an amazing job bringing The Academy to life, the students, the adults, the campus; the book was like a movie playing in my head everything was so vivid.

Thank you Margarita Montimore, Flatiron Books, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

At 34 Ivy seemingly has a super fabulous life - she is gorgeous and is a mega star.  She is also the most famous member of the somewhat mythological Dollhouse Academy, an elite boarding school and talent incubator, but she has been trying to escape the academy for years but the threats on her life every time she tried to escape keep her there.  Best friends Ramona and Grace enter the school all starry eyed and ambitious - not realizing that the academy, almost cult like in its rules and following, takes over every aspect of your life, including areas that seemed untouchable.  Grace quickly outshines Ramona and becomes a megastar, and quickly removes Ramona from her life, but Ramona sees something off in Grace and tries to reach her to help.  Will Grace's life soon be like Ivy's - trapped and completely controlled?  

I went into this one because I loved the author's last book, Oona Out of Order - this book is very different.  Regardless, I really enjoyed the novel and found it completely compelling.  This novel touches on how stardom comes at a price, both physically and emotionally and asks the questions - how far would you go to achieve your dreams?  I did about 3/4 of this one on audio but was so intrigued with the story that I put down my other book to finish it on my kindle.  The dual audiobook narration was great and I thought both did an excellent job.

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the ARC to review

Described as a blend of psychological thriller, dark academia, and political satire in a historical setting, I was incredibly intrigued to read The Dollhouse Academy.

The point of view flips between diary pages from an older student now superstar, Ivy, and the new student Ramona. In Ivy’s tale we see the woven fabric of the academy result in breadcrumbs building the foreboding of what’s in store for Ramona and her friend Grace.

In reality, the Dollhouse Academy ‘school’ feels less academy and more cultish with a locked down town/compound of sorts with housing and classes, where the students can ascend to working in the entertainment industry.

I loved the ‘notes in the mailbox’ factor, ever-teasing more ominous woes ahead. The Valley of the Dolls is sprinkled throughout and while not a retelling some parallels can be made with both it and Black Mirror episodes. The undercurrent investigates identity and the freedom of choices.

I won’t give spoilers but if you are up for a character-driven suspense with a close psychological lean on Ramona as she tries to navigate how to deal with her situation, then this is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for an advanced reading copy.