Such a captivating book!! I’ve always loved dollhouses although I’ve never had one but this book makes me think it’s never too late, This story brings to light the struggles of female relationships in the early 1900’s and the lengths they had to go to for them. I love the time jumping between Cora and Tilly’s stories. The flow is perfect. All the secrets and intrigue kept me from putting the book down. I think Elise Hooper is an incredible author that gives life to her stories. I can’t wait to read more of her novels! Thank you for letting me read this ARC!

"To create art is, at its core. a hopeful act. In a world that was all too filled with heartbreak and sorrow, I needed to choose hope."

EASY five stars. This one was so good. It's a reminder that history is always more queer than it's given credit for, women were a part of all things in history whether their stories are told or not, and that history deserves to be told. Cora's first-person confessions are probably the strongest parts of the book, but I really appreciated the modern take from Tildy as she uncovers the mystery. It helps readers keep our modern perspective, an acknowledgement that we do not ever know the whole story.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Library of Lost Dollhouses is an original story highlighting the struggles of women and how they have fought to have a voice in their lives. I enjoyed how the story came together highlighting many women from different generations and how their stories weren't forgotten by the hidden revelations in Cora's dollhouses. Historical fiction fans will enjoy this latest from Elise Hooper and how it blends the past and present together.

I was drawn to this book because of two words in the title: library and dollhouses. I didn’t know what to expect but this was such a good book I often couldn’t put it down. Tildy works in a library in San Francisco that was once the home of the woman the library is named after. Tildy finds a hidden doorway and is amazed at the miniature dollhouses she finds inside. The story is told through the eyes of Tildy and the woman who built the dollhouses. We find out the history of these buildings as they were commissioned and built. The author leaves nothing for the reader to imagine as she describes the houses in great detail down to the wallpaper and drawer contents. If you’re interested in historical fiction other than wars you will probably like this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Tildy Barrows, Head Curator at the Belva Curtis LeFarge Library in San Francisco. The dollhouses stored on the upper floors of the building hold an important key to her past.

Learning about the gifted women in Belle Epoque Paris to World War I vets living in the English countryside to Walt Disney’s thriving Burbank studios in the 1950s, Tildy can put together the puzzle of her past ancestors as experienced by her late mother, Meg Leigh Barrows.

As Tildy gains knowledge of familial ties, she finds a pathway to a promising future of fulfillment. This is a book to cherish.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. for an advance copy of this book.

I wanted to love this book…as it has much of what I enjoy: historical fiction, art, multiple perspectives, strong female characters. I did enjoy a lot of it but feel it got bogged down in perhaps too much detail or trying to be too much.

Readers will be quickly drawn into Tildy’s and Cora’s stories. Although the plot is somewhat complex the pace moves at a good clip.

This book could be a great introductory pick for a book club that subsequently reads historical fiction based on other notable women in history who were inspirations for characters in Library of Lost Dollhouses.

The premise of the story was promising but the actual book didn't click for me. I never really understood the secrets built into the dollhouses or why various women felt the need to commission miniatures to share their travails/mistreatment. Did I miss something explaining that?

I usually enjoy the dual timeline scenario but I wasn't able to connect with the characters or truly feel engaged in the story. I felt like the relationships (who was Tildy's mother in all this? how did she fit in? why the name change?) were complicated and the built up suspense related to the artwork fell relatively flat once it was revealed. I found the two lesbian relationships gratuitous and unnecessary - especially two of them. One, perhaps believable and useful to further the notion that those relationships were hidden in that time period, but two seemed weirdly over the top.

Another strange insertion was the few pages dedicated to the Disney connection; out of nowhere comes Walt Disney and his love of miniatures, and then, no more.

Finally, Tildy's relationship with Ben was artificial to me; they meet, they predictably fall for each other, she holds out on him, he finds out, they break up, they reconcile.

Be prepared to read this late into the night. As a librarian discovers historic dollhouses in a secret room, her life changes. It sounded like an interesting experience. It was a fascinating story.

This was a really fun read! I loved the concept and I felt the characters were very easy to connect with. I especially loved Cora's chapters!

My review is also posted on both my Goodreads and Fable accounts.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story of Cora Hale and her dollhouses. I wouldn't say this book was action-packed but it was entertaining and held my interest throughout. I also enjoyed reading Tildy's story and seeing her character come out of her shell as novel progressed. I would've liked to have heard about a few more of the dollhouses and the women behind them but overall a pleasant read.

I love libraries and I love dollhouses, but unfortunately, I didn't love this book. The writing just wasn't engaging, and I didn't feel a connection to the main character.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper is a historical fiction about a young librarian, Tilly, who discovers historic dollhouses in a hidden room, leading to questions about the library, maker of the dollhouses, and her own family. She embarks on an unexpected journey that reveals surprising secrets about the lost miniatures and leading to her own personal growth.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. The dual-timeline story was interesting, learning both about Tilly in present day and Cora Hale during the WWI and WWII timeframes. Sometimes historical fiction novels are very emotional but I found this one to a fast-paced heartwarming story that didn't cause me to "boohoo" cry (some early reviews are critiquing this saying it lacked depth because of it's pacing but I appreciated it because sometimes I want to read something historical but not be emotionally broken because of it). There were both elements of mystery and love, however nothing graphic. This would be a good read for readers who enjoy historical fiction but don't necessarily want to feel heartbroken.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for granting me an advance reader copy of the ebook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely of my own and based off of this draft; final publication may be different. Expected publication date is April 1, 2025.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel.

Unfortunately, I am in the minority here. I am not quite sure why I did not connect with this book. From the description, it sounded like something that I would love. It seemed to me that there was just too much telling of what happened instead of discovering the plot through the characters and the action. The novel is well researched and I enjoyed learning about the dollhouses and the miniatures. Since the majority of reviews have been very positive, I think that it was just not the book for me.

This was a lovely dual-timeline story involving war, love, secrets, and owning your own story. The setting of a grand library and the dollhouse/miniaturist elements were captivating all on their own. Nothing really new here, just a very enjoyable tale.

I've enjoyed other books by this author, so I was excited to read this book. This was an interesting story in that none of the main characters were so closely based on a real person. It was well done and kept my interest throughout. It was definitely an unpredictable storyline, and I couldn't anticipate the plot twists, which I enjoyed. Definitely a solid women's historical fiction read.

So close to a 5 star with amazing details of the miniatures, and fascinating entrance to the world of making miniatures, but the connection of Tildy and Ben seemed extraneous and not necessary to the plot. The writing even seemed inserted by an editor’s suggestion.

The parts written about Cora held more of my attention with time period details and her work with service men. Reading this book opened up all new avenues of history and research to explore.
Thanks to Netgalley for giving me an advance peek into a fascinating fictional world with a sprinkle of history to explore on my own. Definitely a book for dollhouse enthusiasts and crafters of miniatures. Reading it Re-inspired me to look for museums housing miniatures.

📖 Book Review 📖 Over thirty years ago my
Mom built a dollhouse for me, complete with electrical wiring. It was a true labor of love and going to Doctor’s Dollhouse with her as she underwent this feat was such a privilege. It sat preserved in our basement until our girls were old enough and then it was passed down and nothing brings more joy than seeing my kids play with this heirloom. My mom died last year but a piece of her lives on in this special dollhouse she constructed. Elise Hooper’s The Library of Lost Dollhouses beautifully encapsulates this sense of nostalgia and creates a cathartic read, whisking readers away on a journey through the past through the story of lost dollhouses. Told in multiple timelines, Hooper connects the stories of women across generations in a masterful manner.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper was a must read for me! For one thing it combines libraries and dollhouses in one story! Written as a dual timeline we meet Tildy who is a curator at the library to beat all libraries in San Francisco. The description makes you want to get on a plane to visit this amazing building. One day Tildy finds a hidden room and discovers two dollhouses that are truly a work of art. Where did they come from and why are they hidden? And what is hidden in them? Loved this story!

When a young librarian discovers historic dollhouses in a hidden room, she embarks on an unexpected journey that reveals surprising secrets about the lost miniatures.

When I first read this sentence of the synopsis of this book I know it was going to be a gem of a book. This book is definitely on to read if you love romance and secrets.