San Francisco, present time; Tildy Barrows is the head curator of the Belva Curtis Lefarge library. She loves her job and is a true expert of preserving the historic inventory, books and art, in the beautiful Beaux Arts building. But the library is on the brink of bankruptcy and in danger of closing, Tildy finds out in a meeting with the director of the library. But then Tildy finds two beautiful historic dollhouses in a storage room. Who made these beautiful dollhouses, and why is there a miniature portrait of Tildy's mother in one of them? What is the secret message that Belva Curtis Lefarge. the heiress who started the libary, was trying to tell? Tildy finds the initials of a certain CH on the dollhouses. These initials belonged to Cora Hart. A woman who moved to Paris from New York just before the war breaks out. Cora landed in a house full of artistic women because the help of Belva. Belva is a married high society woman, but something blooms up between her and Cora. Cora starts making dollhouses that are truly works of art. She makes them in a part of Belva's estate. And then the war breaks out in Europe and all the women in the house leave. Cora wants to leave to and asks Belva to come with her, but Belva stays with her husband, who is unfaithful to her. With the help of a British duchess that also stayed in the house, Belva leaves for the UK, where she continues making dollhouses that contains secrets of the owners who ordered a dollhouse from her. She starts working with recovering injured soldiers from the war on the dollhouse, and later gets the chance to work for Disney in Hollywood. With the help of Cora's diary, Tildy discovers forgotten and secret histories, unexpected connections to her own family, and a chance to save the library.
I really liked the overall storyline of this book. The story starts and I was immediately interested in what happened next, and what the story of the dollhouses was. There are a lot of characters and a lot of different places and time periods in this story, so much that sometimes I was a little lost to what the connection was to Tildy's mother in connection to the dollhouse, and why there was a miniature portrait of her in one the dollhouses she found. The storyline was also a bit slow at some point in the later parts of the book. That part lacked a bit interesting plot twists. But further on I found this book entertaining at the other a parts. Overall I found this book not very outstanding, but it was a nice in between read to escape with.

This was a good story but the characters felt bland and I didn’t get much out of Tildy’s story other than how much dollhouses shaped her life.

What an enjoyable read. I was fascinated with the world of miniatures. It's a little hard to wrap my mind around the details that can be made. It also gives a little history of the role of women in WWII. The secret driving schools so women could contribute with driving ambulances and supply trucks. I thought Tildy was the perfect person to narrate the adventures of two remarkable women who helped shape history.

Absolutely a favorite book of my 2025 Net Galley reads. This is a richly drawn dual timeline story that completely captured me to conclusion. A story of helping veterans, of human connection and mysterious history of dollhouse miniatures. I love it and highly recommend this book for your reading enjoyment.
Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and the author. My review opinions are my own.

I am convinced that this historical fiction is so niche it may only attract specific readers. However, it is definitely a book for everyone. My grandfather was a dollhouse builder. When I saw this title, I was immediately sent back in time. Time spent with him.

Don’t let this one site on your TBR. Elsie Hooper has triumphed with this beautifully written story about human connection, loss, passion, and history observed through non-traditional sources. Readers of Kate Quinn should take A shot on Elsie Hooper.

I'm attempting to try to read more historical fiction because a lot of our patrons love it. Unfortunately, this wasn't something I was able to get into. I think it would make a fabulous movie or TV series, though.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I took a few chapters for me to get into this book, but then I ended up really enjoying it!

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title, but unfortunately it didn’t quite capture my interest. While the premise was promising, I found it difficult to stay engaged. That said, I’m sure it will find its audience with readers who connect more strongly with the writing style or pacing.

I always love any story with a strong and supportive cast of female characters, with a dash of history and a fun premise. This fit the bill. I thought of more authors I've read that would be close matches for anyone who enjoyed this book. This well written historical fiction novel was amazing, and it was interesting to learn about the history of miniatures, how they were constructed and also how they came to be in the world of Disney.

A lovely book filled with mystery and intrigue. I would love to see these dollhouses in real life! My favorite part is how creating the dollhouses became a form of therapy for the wounded soldiers. Loved them!

With a riveting, dual timeline plot and deeply imagined characters, The Library of Lost Dollhouses kept me turning pages to uncover its secrets and mysteries.

When archivist and curator Tildy Barrows discovers two intricately detailed dollhouses in a hidden room inside the memorial library where she works, the discovery sends her on a fascinating quest--one that might save her beloved, nearly bankrupt library in the process. But who created these remarkably constructed dollhouses? And how did they come to belong to Belva Curtis LeFarge, the influential heiress who established the library a century ago?

With impeccable pacing that never rushes or lags, Hooper draws readers along with Tildy as she investigates this historical mystery that spans a timeline stretching from Belle Époque Paris, to World War I, to Hollywood in the 1950s. The prose is effortless and evocative, painting a rich backdrop to the connections the author draws between her characters. The dual timelines are seamless and equally compelling.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses is an absorbing comfort read--it's quietly suspenseful in a way that will hook readers immediately, while including all the atmospheric details that readers of the historical fiction genre enjoy. Themes of female friendship/mentorship, art as a form of rebellion and independence, and positive LGBTQ+ representation give this book high marks. Easily one of my favorites of 2025, thus far!

I was able to read this novel thru NetGalley and glad I got the chance before publication. It’s a mix of historical fiction with mystery within it too. The descriptions of the dollhouses and the importance they played for women in the past was intriguing.

Tildy Barrows is a librarian at an archival library in San Francisco. One day at the library she discovers a secret room upstairs and finds two beautiful antique dollhouses. One of the dollhouses has a miniature portrait of her late mother as a young girl! She begins to investigate the dollhouses and discovers a multi-layered history that spans many years.

I wanted to read this novel because I love historical fiction and I have a lifelong love of dollhouses and miniatures.

The dollhouse descriptions alone in this book made it a delightful read for me! The history behind the dollhouses, and the secrets found there, dating all the way back to the 1910's, were fascinating. Most of the book is told in the present time period but there are also chapters that flash back to Cora Hale, the dollhouse artist, and her complicated life in Paris, London, and the United States.

I loved everything about this book - the storytelling, the descriptions, the mystery, and the quiet romance that unexpectedly unfolds for Tildy.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses is certain to be a top 10 read for me this year. I recommend it highly for fans of historical fiction and especially for anyone else who loves dollhouses and miniatures. Five enthusiastic stars!

Couldn’t get into this book. I struggled staying interested and connecting with the characters. I loved the cover art for this book.

This was a fun creative story that I enjoyed! The mystery was really enticing and I had fun with this! I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Elise Hooper, William Morrow and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

The reader is drawn into a series of amazing twentieth century events and the secret lives of women within them. All this is tied together by a San Francisco private library and some handmade dollhouses. Who created the artifacts and how they are tied together are question at the heart of this gripping novel.

Who doesn’t love a dollhouse, especially one with secrets? This story is dual timelines, with one timeline following Tildy Barrows in the present day who has just discovered two dollhouses hidden in the house museum library she works in in San Francisco. The other is Cora Hale, a woman fleeing her past to Paris right before the start of WWI. We then follow Cora up through closer to Tildy’s timeline as we learn more about the history of the dollhouses.

I loved the historical fiction setting and the tie-in with dollhouses. Hooper mentioned she got inspired to write this book as she was restoring her family’s fifth generation dollhouse. I also have a dollhouse that my grandfather built for me, which has now been passed on to my daughter. There is just something special about miniature houses. I thought Hooper did a great job of researching the history behind why these dollhouses might have been created, and what it was like to live through these times. The slight mystery about Tildy’s mother and her relationship to the museum where Tildy works was also interesting.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper was a novel of strong and unconventional women. Interestingly, many of the characters were based on actual historical figures.

Two main characters were featured, Tildy Barrows and Cora Hale. This book mostly follows the story of Cora Hale, who was an art prodigy with tremendous talent and a monumental secret. As a consequence of her past, Cora mostly lives in obscurity, remaining at the edges while the famous women she worked for take the spot light. Cora's story takes us through several historic events like World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. The book isn't about those events, but they do add context. The historical aspects and the descriptions of building miniatures were the most enjoyable part of this story.

Tildy's role is basically to unfurl Cora's story for us, while Cora reveals the secrets, mysteries, and tragedies of all these nonconformist women. Tildy and Cora both lost their mothers at a young age, which was a defining plot point. By the end of the book, the real connection between Tildy and Cora is revealed.

This story features several romantic relationships, and I feel like they were more of a distraction than an enhancement to the tale of Cora's and Tildy's lives, and I found them more confusing than anything. There were multiple F-F romances, and while it's not something that would detract from my rating, it's also not something I connect with personally.

3/5 stars. While this book had a fast-paced start, and I loved the strong female characters in this book and the historical setting, by the end it was a bit of slog to get through. The pacing felt like it slowed down quite a bit by the last couple hours of reading. I also didn't care for what felt like frequent switching of romantic partners (years may have gone by in the storyline, but only pages went by in the book), too much yo-yo-ing for me. Recommended for those who enjoy stories about unorthodox women in historical contexts.

This was a decent book. Not a bad length and the story was cool. Would recommend to anyone looking for their next read

This novel struck a familiar chord by reminding me of Death in the Details by Katie Tietjen. Both books step into carefully constructed dollhouses and dioramas where every detail holds significance. The connection between these novels deepens when considering their shared inspiration were the masterpieces of Frances Lee Glessner.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses captivates with its use of spiral storytelling and its exploration of themes such as overlooked history, the resilience of women, and the search for identity and connection across generations. Centering on Tildy Barrows, a librarian working in San Francisco, whose world shifts when she stumbles upon two beautifully crafted dollhouses hidden within her library. These creations are more than simple miniatures. The houses hold secrets and clues that span over a century, linking ambitious women in Belle Époque Paris, World War I veterans in England, and the world of Walt Disney’s studio in the mid-20th century. As Tildy investigates the origins of the dollhouses, she uncovers women who challenged societal norms and expectations while unraveling surprising truths about her own family.

Art, obsession, and the importance of preserving forgotten stories emerge as key elements. The dollhouses serve as powerful symbols of enduring legacies and the idea of hidden rooms, both literal and metaphorical, which reflect the spaces where secrets, creativity, and untold stories come to life.

The interconnected timelines create a distinct storytelling rhythm, drawing readers into the lives of those who owned the dollhouses. It celebrates the beauty of curiosity and courage, reminding us of the transformative power of uncovering what lies beneath the surface. This novel is a tale of connection, strength, and creativity, offering an unforgettable journey through history and imagination.