I absolutely loved this book and preordered a copy of it to be sent to my Mom on publication day.
Tildy is a librarian at a very unique archival library in San Francisco. She loves her job but wonders if there's something more she should be doing as the library is on the brink of bankruptcy. She unexpectedly comes upon a door in the back of a closet that she's never noticed before and inside is a Dollhouse. This starts her exploration of researching this dollhouse and other's to bring their stories to life. The story goes back and forth between present day and whatever time period the specific dollhouse is from. The way the story comes together and the amazing things that were done with these dollhouses is what made me enjoy this book so much.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

Any book about books or museums already has my heart. I found the descriptions of the library and dollhouses to be quite beautiful and immediately gave me a sense of time and place which is so important for books about these topics. The one big thing that took this down to a 3 instead of a 4 is a pitfall that I have with a lot of historical fiction. The characters in this book run into literally very famous people, whether actual (Walt Disney? Really?) or based on actual people, and mention every major event the reader would know about (besides the war) that it becomes unbelievable and absurd.

I would still recommend this and will give the author another try.

This was a FASCINATING, layered dual timeline historical fiction story about a librarian in the present who discovers a room of incredible forgotten dollhouses - each one a masterpiece in craftsmanship and skill. As she tracks down the dollhouses history she learns more about the woman who made them and her very interesting life. Full of rich historic detail, a passionate librarian and a moving Sapphic romance. I really enjoyed this especially on audio and it just may be a new favorite by this beloved author! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

How could I go wrong with a novel about dollhouses, miniatures, and a librarian? Elise Hooper’s The Library of Lost Dollhouses has all those elements, along with an artist to root for. Readers who don’t care for alternating timelines will not be happy with that aspect, though.

Tildy Barrows is the Head Curator at the Belva Curtis LeFarge Library in San Francisco. She knows the library has some financial problems, so when she finds two remarkable dollhouses hidden behind a panel in the library, she’s hopeful they might be useful in saving the library. And, it isn’t long before she realizes one of the houses, a four story building, is a model of the Hotel Le Farge in Paris where Belva Curtis LeFarge once lived. But, who was the artist who built the house? There are secrets hidden in both houses, but one of them shocks Tildy. It’s a miniature picture of Tildy’s own mother.

Tildy’s search for answers and the truth behind the houses takes her into her own past, her mother’s unknown story, and the life of Cora Hale, an artist who we meet in Paris in 1910. As she researches, Tildy realizes there is some connection. Not only is her mother’s picture in the house, but Tildy’s middle name is Cora.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses is a complex story of women, secrets, and art. It’s a story of obsession, for other people, along with Tildy’s obsession about her search for family answers. And, the miniatures! Anyone who loves dollhouses and miniatures will appreciate the detail that goes along with the book, and the story of recuperating soldiers following WWI who learn to reuse their skills. I thought Tildy could have been developed more, but I really enjoyed Cora Hale as a character.

I also found it fascinating that one of Elise Hooper’s inspirations was Frances Glessner Lee who built miniature crime scenes, her Nutshell Libraries, to assist police in solving crimes. If that interests you, too, check out Katie Tietjen’s Death in the Details, a mystery inspired by Lee.

I am enjoying all the stories that are being written about overlooked women in world history, whether real or fictional. Elise Hooper's The Library of Lost Dollhouses is another strong addition to this category, and her Author's Note at the end explains the people who inspired her characters.

The story spans a century and is told by two women, one, head curator Tildy Barrows who is passionate about saving the Belva Curtis LeFarge Library in San Francisco. As she described it, I wished I could go there and wander through all the rooms-- marvelous! The second is Cora Hale, extraordinary artist and creator of the most exquisite dollhouses I've ever read about. (I love the Thorne Rooms in the Phoenix Art Museum and have visited them many times, so this is a subject that's interested me for a long time.) I love how Cora was able to incorporate women's secrets into the houses she created for them.

Another strong point in this book was the descriptions of how difficult it is to keep a place like the LeFarge Library afloat, especially after the pandemic. As the book traveled from one place to the next, from Tildy's life and then back to Cora's, I couldn't wait until all was revealed. All in all, this is a heart-warming read that's well worth your time.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses is a dual POV historical fiction following two women, one in present time and one in the 1910s. I loved learning about the history of dollhouses and picturing the ones Cora made. However, I struggled to connect with the characters for some reason and hoped for more depth in either the plot or the characters. This was a fast and easy read, so I would still recommend the Library of Lost Dollhouses to people that enjoy historical fiction.

I enjoyed the narration by Emily Rankin and Caroline Hewitt.

i received an ARC and ALC from William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks and HarperAudio Adult | HarperAudio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

I was absolutely riveted to this story from the very beginning. Told in dual timelines with Tildy's story in the current timeline and Cora's story in the past by what we come to find out is her diary. Several locations including San Francisco, Paris, NYC, England and New Hampshire provide the backdrops for an extraordinary story about disappearing or hiding in plain sight. You can decide for yourself. Claiming your place and making your mark in the world is the central tenet in small and big ways. The characters were all so vibrant, alluring and captivating that I kept looking them up to see if they were real people. (Although they weren't, they were in some ways based on real women in our history. I now have an urge to see truly intricate dollhouses and will be keeping my eyes and ears open so I can see some in person.

THE LIBRARY OF LOST DOLLHOUSES by Elise Hooper focuses on the discovery of a secret room at the Belva Curtis Lefarge Library in San Francisco, a library and museum that will struggle to remain open in the wake of changing times.

Told from first person perspective (Cora Hale) and third person (Mathilda ‘Tildy’ Barrows) following several (non-linear) timelines from 1910-1974 and 2024, THE LIBRARY OF LOST DOLLHOUSES is a story of historical fiction that focuses on Tildy Barrows as the journeys through the past in the hopes of discovering the truth about the what she found in the secret room at the Belva Curtis Lefarge Library. In 2024, Tildy Barrows is the Head Curator at the archival library, and finding a collection of exquisite and detailed miniature dollhouses pushes Tildy to unravel a centuries old mystery including the history about a painting titled Young Woman in Hat but as Tildy begins her search for the truth, the reality will change the course of history for not only for Tildy but everyone involved.

The backstory begins in 1910 when we are introduced to a young woman named Cora Hale, and for the next six decades we are up close and personal with the talents of a woman forced to hide her true self but a woman who also hides the stories of the woman who have been purged from history, for who they were, and what they did. As Tildy begins to dig deeper into the past, her own family history will become entwined with the stories buried in the miniatures and Cora Hale.

THE LIBRARY OF LOST DOLLHOUSES is a slow building story blending some historical fact with fiction focusing on secrets and lies hidden by the talents of Cora Hale. From two world wars, to the inception of Disneyland and beyond, the fictional Cora and her talent tell a story that remained hidden for close to one hundred years. The premise is detailed and imaginative; the characters are numerous and unique.


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I stayed up late one night to finish, not because it was utterly fantastic. I wanted to wrap up the loose ends and see what happened with Tildy and Ben and the Bel. The only portions I could have completely done without were the "girls kissing girls" scenes, since I didn't realize it was a fiction piece that had LBGTQ characters. Unlike “Radio Girls|” by Sarah-Jane Stratford, which I loved that happened to have a gay character very minimally discussed, there was too much "oh, how wonderful" descriptions in this particular novel.

I liked the dual timeline aspect that effectively is woven together Cora's retrospective view of the dollhouses and what Tildy is uncovering about Cora and the mysterious dollhouses in the modern day. The twist to how Tildy's mother figures into the history of the Bel, the library where Tildy works as the head curator, was interesting and not as horrible as it first appeared. Ben is adorable, and the burgeoning friendship/relationship between Ben and Tildy kept me within the world of the novel, and I wanted to know the fate of the library with its major repairs and possible funding unsteadiness. The book's blurb on the author's website sums up the times and place Tildy figuratively visits while uncovering the stories told about and within the miniatures themselves: a "world of ambitious and gifted women in Belle Époque Paris, a group of scarred World War I veterans in the English countryside, and Walt Disney’s bustling Burbank studio in the 1950s". I'll definitely be recommending this for purchase at my library, as it is a fantastic women's fiction addition that blends multiple intriguing things together.

I loved the story line. The connection to secrets hidden in dollhouses, the history and research put into the story, the time and patience that goes into building. I truly thought it was incredibly well done. It switched between different POV and timelines, yet I was never confused and I found that the book moved seamlessly and perfectly. It was easy to differentiate the characters and timelines. It was a quick read - I switched between audio and ebook and both were enjoyable. My only complaint is that the story was so focused on the dollhouses, both past and present, that I felt like I did not get enough from the characters' stories. It felt very flat and surface level... and I wish there was a better balance of the two. Overall, a quick and enjoyable read! 
Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Cora Hart was an artist who found her specialty building intricate dollhouses that often held secrets about their owners. Nearly 100 years later, Tildy who works at a library in San Francisco finds a secret room with two dollhouses inside. As she investigates and tries to learn about these dollhouses and their creators and owners, many fascinating secrets are revealed. Great story and so unique,

I listened to the audio version and read the book. Absolutely loved it. I loved the history and the vivid descriptions of the beautiful dollhouses. The description of them allows you to envision them in your head. I liked the characters and the setting of the old library building. Just so much history in here and beautiful descriptions.
I recommend both the audiobook version and the written one. Amazing book and a super creative idea from the author.

I didn't even know that I would find miniatures and dollhouses to be an interesting topic for a book, but somehow the stories of what Cora crafted into her dollhouses, and the life she lived before, during, and after these years, was fascinating. The connections to the present, and Tildy's search for the dollhouses' history and their maker's story (and its connections to her enigmatic late mother's history) was a good complement.

I wasn't certain what I expected when I picked up The Library of Lost dollhouses, however the story was so much more emotional and information than anticipated and I loved it. You won't get any supernatural or magical realism, but you will get a bit of a love story woven into a narrative about fierce, intelligent women in history who made their own contributions to the arts.

We meet Tildy who is the head curator of a small library in San Francisco, however the library has fallen out of the public's interest and is struggling financially. Yet one day, Tildy is n a storage room and discovers a hidden space with two intricate and exquisite dollhouses which has been hidden away for most of their existence. She starts to wander down the rabbit hole of the creator, Cora Hart, and who she was as an artist as well as how she ties into the life of Belva LeFarge, the heiress who established the library with the dollhouses.

the story is wonderfully woven and I loved the idea these women existed in history in some way. The author's afterword helps the reader understand that though the story is ultimately fiction, many of the characters references within are based loosely on true women in history. Once I finished the story, I wanted to know more about the real women who inspired this story. This historical fiction hit me in all the right places to make me feel connected to the story and people. I was fully invested in their story though the end.

Tildy Barrows, Head Curator of a beautiful archival library in San Francisco. She accidentally comes across a hidden door and discovers two never before seen dollhouses. This send Tildy on a hunt to discover their history and possibly save her library.

Tildy is a bit of a mouse at first. But let me tell you, before this story is over, she roars. She is determined to find out about the history surrounding these doll houses and how her own mother’s picture is in one.

Y’all know I love a book with secrets and this novel is full of them. Not only that…she has STRONG women characters that you will want to know more about. This story had me researching because not only does it have great women it is full of history!

I have read one other book by this author, Fast Girls. I highly recommend that one as well!

Need a novel full of secrets and great female characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

5 Stars!

Thank you to William Morrow for the ARC of this book on NetGalley! All opinions in this review are my own.

Tildy works as the Head Curator at a library in the Beaux Art building, and her life takes an expected turn when she discovers some never-before-seen dollhouses, and learns the library is on the brink of bankruptcy. Upon discovering the dollhouses, Tildy and the library reach out to the public for more information, and Tildy starts to learn her family history is connected to the Beaux Art building in ways she never anticipated. This story is told from two different time periods, with Tildy in present day, and Cora, our other narrator and creator of the houses, from pre-WWI to the 1970s.

What drew me into this book and made me request the ARC was that I grew up with a beloved dollhouse my grandpa built for me. Since then, I’ve had a love of miniatures and historic dollhouses, so I felt I could relate to Tildy’s passion for learning more about the houses in this book. This book was so much more than I thought it would be, and I absolutely loved it! I loved learning the history of dollhouses woven through the story, from trying to bring joy to a town, and telling one's personal history through the houses.

What I loved most about this book was that it was a story of uncovering a woman’s talent who had been forgotten to history, while also revisiting history that might be difficult to share and setting the record straight. History, especially family history, can be messy and complicated, but Tildy faces these issues head on and works to correct the story to remember talented women like Cora.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses: A Novel by Elise Hooper, is a Women’s Historical Fiction Novel. Covering the span of a century, it depicts how these commissioned doll houses contain the hidden stories of the women depicted in the book.

In addition to the book, I had the good fortune to be able to listen to the book simultaneously as well. Narrated by Emily Rankin and Caroline Hewitt, both voices clearly identified the POVs in the book and allowed the listener to be able to easily identify which timeline they were in.

Thank you to William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks and HarperAudio Adult | HarperAudio for the opportunity to read the eARC and listen to the ALC. All opinions are my own.


Print book Rating: 4 Stars
Audible book Rating: 5 stars
Pub Date: May 20 2025

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#Elsie Hooper
#EmilyRankin
#CarolineHewit
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The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hopper is a captivating blend of mystery, nostalgia, and emotional depth. The story revolves around dollhouses that hold secrets of the past, with each one acting as a key to unraveling family mysteries. Hopper’s evocative writing brings the world and characters to life, creating a perfect balance between tension and heartfelt moments.

The pacing is just right, with unexpected twists that kept me hooked, and the themes of memory, loss, and healing are explored beautifully. A big thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC and audiobook, which added an extra layer to the experience.

If you enjoy family sagas with a touch of the supernatural, this book is definitely worth reading.

My favorite kind of historical fiction is the kind where you learn something new about untold or under appreciated stories. There are many of these in the market, but The Library of Lost Dollhouses is a cut above most of them. It grabbed me right by the imagination. This book brought some of my main passions together: libraries, strong women, art and intrigue.

We first meet Tildy, a curator in a library of art and books based loosely on the Isabelle Stewart Gardner Museum, which, like the Belva Curtis LaFarge Library (“The Bel”), in this book, was founded by and nurtured over many years by an extraordinary woman. One day, Tildy discovers a secret compartment in the building, which houses a pair of beautiful art dollhouses full of miniatures. She is shocked to discover that each of these works also has a secret code of sorts built into the construction (painted into the wallpaper, for example). Of course Tildy needs to track down the history of these works.

In alternate chapters, we follow the story of Cora Hart, the creator of the dollhouses, and learn her story in the form of a diary written for her daughter before her death. The mysteries surrounding the dollhouses is revealed in Cora's first person as Tildy uncovers more and more information about the dollhouses and, coincidentally, her own family.

I loved the characters in this story, but the main attraction for me was the description of the art of dollhouse making and Cora's process. These dollhouses are not like Barbie's Dream House, they are constructed to tell a story, not for play. As a miniaturist, Cora needs to tell her story in extremely small spaces: a portrait the size of a thumbnail, a scarf less than an inch long. Often, she was hiding secrets that the commissioners wanted to memorialize but keep hidden from someone. The art and the stories were absolutely fascinating. Hooper writes with a sure hand about artistic process, which is very hard for a non-artist to get right (I wasn't surprised to find in the author's notes that Hooper has some personal experience with miniatures).

I'm looking forward to recommending this book to all of my bookish and artistic friends. Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.