Hazel Gaynor transforms a character we barely glimpse in "The Wizard of Oz" into a fully realized woman in "Before Dorothy," a poignant historical novel that breathes life into Auntie Em's backstory with remarkable depth and authenticity. The Emily Gale we meet here—first in 1924 Chicago, then in 1930s Kansas—emerges as a woman shaped by sisterhood, loss, and the harsh beauty of prairie existence.

What makes this reimagining so captivating is how Gaynor weaves Emily's complex relationship with her sister Annie through the narrative—their once-inseparable bond slowly fracturing until circumstance delivers Annie's orphaned daughter to Emily's doorstep. Emily's reluctance to mother Dorothy stems not from coldness but from profound grief and self-doubt, creating an emotional complexity that transforms a fairy tale secondary character into someone achingly human.

The Kansas prairie itself becomes a character, rendered in sensory detail so vivid you'll feel the grit of dust storms against your skin and hear the ominous approach of tornadoes. Gaynor masterfully integrates historical elements—the devastation of the Dust Bowl, the economic stranglehold of the Depression—without ever letting them overshadow the intimate human drama at the story's heart.

Emily and Dorothy's gradual connection unfolds with tender restraint, avoiding sentimentality while still delivering emotional impact. The novel's somber tone never dips into despair, instead offering a meditation on resilience and redefinition.

Saskia Maarleveld's audiobook narration brings distinctive voices to each sister, her performance enhancing the emotional resonance of Emily's journey. Her pacing makes even the quietest moments feel urgent and compelling.

"Before Dorothy" ultimately asks us to reconsider what makes a home—is it a place, a person, or perhaps something we carry within ourselves? The answer, like this novel, is both simple and profound.

Special thanks to Penguin Random House Audio and Berkley for providing the free book and audiobook for review, though all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

DNF at 38%. I like the *concept* of this book, exploring Aunt Em’s life prior to Dorothy’s trip to Oz. But in execution, it’s rather boring. The first part is the most interesting, I could feel part two becoming mundane.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Before Dorothy. If you are a Dan if the Wizard of Oz and Wicked then you will probably enjoy the story if Auntie Em ( Emily) before Dorothy came to live with her and Henry. I loved reading about the backstory of Emily and Annie (Dorothy’s mother). We learn what happened to Dorothy’s parents and why she came to live with Emily and Henry. Some chapters were slow and boring, and others parts were exciting and sad. There was lots of little Easter eggs from the Wizard of Oz. Overall I gave it 3 stars.

Hazel Gaynor did a wonderful job of incorporating her own story and The Wizard of Oz. This story of Auntie ‘Em and Uncle Henry is filled with hardships, but also filled with love. Once Dorothy arrives, everything that ‘Em knew is put to the test. This story about love, sacrifices, and finding home is wonderfully written. Seeing a different world before the famous story was such a treat. Loved this story of resilience.

A deeply moving, beautifully imagined story of resilience, sacrifice, and the quiet heroism of the woman behind an icon.

Before Dorothy is a stunning historical novel that reimagines the life of Emily, the woman who would raise Dorothy of Oz fame—not in fantasy, but in the harsh, dusty realism of 1930s Kansas. This book swept me into two timelines: the hopeful early days of prairie life and the heartache that followed.

The writing is atmospheric and tender, capturing not just the physical grit of the Dust Bowl but the emotional weight of loss, loyalty, and motherhood. Emily’s love for her niece Dorothy is fierce and selfless, even as grief and hardship threaten to undo her. I was particularly moved by the bond between sisters and how the past haunts the present in subtle, powerful ways.

This is not a fairy tale—but it’s a love letter to the women who hold stories together in the shadows, even as the storms close in.

For fans of Kristin Hannah, The Four Winds, and character-driven historical fiction that makes you feel everything.

4 Oz Easter Egg stars

I have read eight books by this author before, so when I saw this new one, I immediately wanted to read it! Plus, I'm such a fan of The Wizard of Oz and its rich spin-offs, like Wicked. We don’t know much about Auntie Em from the original book, so she is the perfect character to bring to life.

In the mid-1920s, Emily Gale is a new bride living in Chicago near her sister Annie. Henry longs to farm in Kansas, and Emily wants to join him. Emily ends up loving the prairie and farming life.

Years later, as tragedy strikes her family, Dorothy becomes an orphan, and Emily and Henry discover that Annie wanted Dorothy to live with Emily if something ever happened to her.

Getting this new take on Dorothy and her extended family was an enjoyable read, especially if you’ve wondered about Auntie Em and Uncle Henry. The author brings these characters to life, and some dark secrets arise, too.

However, things aren’t going well in Kansas, with destructive farming practices and dust swirling everywhere. A tornado is brewing and set to blow through Kansas.

If you read carefully, you can discover all of the hidden nods to Oz, which was fun. And we all know that there’s no place like home.

This made for a fun buddy discussion with Marilyn; be sure to read her review too!

Before Dorothy gives us hints of how characters like the Tin Man or the Scarecrow may have been born out of real emotions and people, grounding the mythology of Oz in the very real experiences of love, grief, and hope.
This story is more than a companion to a beloved classic it so much more and give us a look behind the characters and where they were born from after reading this. Things from the Wizard of Oz will make so much sense after you read this .If you love The Wizard of Oz as a kid like I did I recommend picking this book up.

Thank you. Netgalley

The Wizard of Oz is a classic story that is loved by all. In this classic novel it will retell the setting in a historical and realistic manner. The primary focus of the novel will focus on someone very dear to Dorothy her auntie Em.
The novel starts out with Emily traveling to Chicago after the death of her sister to take custody of her niece Dorothy. Along the way we are then drawn back to the past of Emily and Annie living their teenage dreams. We meet Uncle Henry a banker who has dreams of being a farmer. Eventually that dream does come true but life in Kansas is very difficult with the great depression and the dust storms. Even when Dorothy does come to live with them things still aren't very promising.
Overall this was a very enjoyable novel. We are given a backstory on how Toto came into Dorothy's possession. There is an intriguing amount of family secrets. While there is no real magic in the story Dorothy still has silver slippers. Overall this is a wonderful novel for anyone to enjoy.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own

One of those classic movies that I always end up watching if I see it on tv, is that of the Wizard of Oz. Something about the movie that takes me right back to childhood...to cottage evenings..and the start of the fantasy genre that I pick up whenever Im craving an escape. So when one of my favourite HF authors put out her new blurb that she was going to write a fictionalized account of Auntie Em & Uncle Henry's story, I knew I would be bugging the publishers for it.

The story begins long before Dorothy visits Oz and gives voice to the Auntie Em she so dearly loves. The question is, how did Dorothy end up with her aunt, how did Emily end up in Kansas and how did the love story between Henry and Emily began.
Beginning in 1924 and going up to "Oz" , we follow Emily and her story of family and love. It begins in Chicago but the promise of the American dream on the plains of Kansas lures them there. Despite having to leave her beloved sister Annie (Dot's mom) and the new arrival of little Dorothy.

What happens over the next 368 pages is grief, financial ruin, hardships on the farm and the undying commitment between two dreamers on a farm. The "how" is the adventure that Ms. Em needs to go through in finding motherhood and the home she dreams of.

This story may have been dreamt up by an author with the love of the MGM classic but it felt like it rang true to the heart of each character. If you love the movie or the WICKED series, I think you'll enjoy it a lot.

Thank you to the publisher in return for an honest review!

HIGHLY recommend

I loved this book! I also adored The Wizard of Oz book and movie! Hazel does a brilliant job creating a sequel that is true to all of the originals. Perfect!

The writing is beautiful, as is the storyline and character development. It answers many questions we all speculated about when reading and/or watching the movie! Plus, "Easter eggs" are sprinkled throughout the book to tie in memories of the books and movie!

Such a lovely book that I needed! Now to watch the movie AGAIN!!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6967179786 - posted 5/18/2025
The StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/f6a9a63d-e25c-438e-a4cd-4727c8e4ed7d?redirect=true - posted 5/18/2025
booksbydorothea Blog: https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/05/review-before-dorothy.html - posted 5/18/2025

When we think of the Wizard of Oz we of course think of Dorothy Gale and her little dog Toto. By the end of the movie we realize it was all a dream and she is back on the Kansas farm with her Auntie Em and Uncle Henry.

Before Dorothy is the story of Auntie Em (Emily Kelly), and the young/young woman girl she was before Dorothy came to live with her. Before Dust Bowl Kansas and life's hardships and disappointments took their toll on her.

In some ways this is a retelling of the Baum story, and there are events and people that will feel familiar. But this is also the story of a young Irish immigrant who moves to Kansas to be with the love of her life. Sure, Dorothy is in this story, but this isn't Dorothy's story.

I really enjoyed so much about this book although I have to admit the ending with Leonardo felt a little forced to me. But that's a minor issue. I also don't love the title of the book, but again a minor quibble.

I also particularly liked the relationships of the different women in this book. On the whole a good read.

The Kansan prairie might as well be a character in this one. Beautiful as it sounds in the brochures Emily has clung to for years, it also can be devastatingly destructive. The sense of the Dust Bowl hovers over the entire story, destroying dreams but, yes, bringing us home, too. I'm surely not the only child who once innocently watched the Oz movie and never once pondered why Dorothy lived with her aunt and uncle. Ah, the innocence of youth. Life can be harsh. In any case, I spent a good deal of time wishing I could somehow reach through the pages and give Emily Gale, the Auntie Em of the beloved tale, a hug.

The author's skill put me there. I felt the wonder of the beauty of the prairie as envisioned by the hopeful young Emily while, yes, recalled the history of what happened to the overworked, over plowed soil and area. The Dust Bowl and hovering sense of doom that the talk of tornadoes creates seemed real, maybe because we've seen all too often of late how the power of nature can destroy. Even worse, how disaster can suck the life out of a person, hence my sense of foreboding for the Emily that we come to know so well as we read. I'm so glad the author caught that brief mention in the original work about Auntie Em being bright-eyed and beautiful once and how that changed. This is Auntie Em's story. You'll get to know Emily and husband Henry Gale well, their neighbors, too, and, I'm willing to bet, come to like and care for them. Dorothy, of course, and Toto, are part of the story but the focus is Auntie Em. Heck, I bet you may even have some sympathy for the "witch" of the story by the end of the book.

Needless to say, I savored this book. I must admit that I dragged it out, only allowing myself to read small sections at a time in order to make it last. I didn't want to leave this magical but deadly place. I admired their determination to make a home there despite frightening and seemingly never-ending set-backs. The characters, and I wound up liking them all, warts and all, seemed real, like something out of a photograph of the Dust Bowl era. I could spend time listing the various "Easter Eggs", ie references to the movie or book, but will leave that delight for the readers to encounter on their own. Needless to say, we learn the backstories of many, including the now iconic trio of the Lion, Tin-Man, and Scare Crow, not to mention a hint of what may have shaped the "Wicked Witch of the West". In addition, make sure you read the historical notes at the end where you'll learn some history and the logic of some of the parts of this tale. Like, oh, where the gingham dress material often came from that we so associate with the movie Dorothy. My sincere thanks to #BerkleyPublishingGroup for reminding me that "There's no place like home" for that is where love and community exist.

Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor was a combination of experiences.

On the one hand, it was fun to read the book and find Wizard of Oz "Easter eggs" sprinkled throughout. I'm not even a "wiz" at Wizard of Oz so true Oz fans would find it even more fun, no doubt!

On the other hand, this story had a lot of historical background of the Kansas area of the Midwest, the Plains, the farming of the plains and how industrial technology wreaked havoc on the fields, the horrible dust storms etc. I didn't know much about that going in and it was very compelling and heartbreaking too.

I enjoyed having both experiences as I read along- they complemented each other.

I very much enjoyed reading Before Dorothy and I recommend it to you. A solid 4 to 4.5 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC of Before Dorothy in exchange for an honest review.

Before Dorothy is due to be published on or around June 17th, 2025.

Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor is an absolutely captivating read that beautifully intertwines themes of family, hardship, and hope. I’d give it 4.5 stars without hesitation. The story follows a young girl named Dorothy, who grows up in a small, oppressive town during the early 20th century. Her life is filled with struggles—losing her mother at a young age, facing poverty, and dealing with a strained relationship with her father. What struck me most was how the author delves deep into Dorothy's inner world, capturing her resilience and longing for a better life. The narrative slowly reveals secrets about her family's past, especially around her mother's mysterious disappearance, which adds layers of mystery and emotional depth. The vivid descriptions of the town, the hardships she endures, and her dreams of escape felt so real and immersive. Throughout her journey, Dorothy encounters kind strangers and faces tough choices that shape who she becomes. The story ultimately explores how difficult circumstances can forge strength and courage in someone so young. It’s a powerful, heartfelt story about perseverance and the unbreakable spirit of those fighting against odds. If you appreciate stories that evoke emotion and offer a glimpse into a challenging yet hopeful childhood, Before Dorothy is a must-read. Truly a moving experience—4.5 stars from me!

Berkley Publishing Group provided an early galley for review.

Growing up, The Wizard of Oz was always a favorite of mine. Something about that fantastical land called to me. So, whenever an Oz-adjacent story pops up, it grabs my attention. I also found the cover of this upcoming novel to be very eye-catching.

The prologue tugs at familiar elements of the classic series while the opening chapters constrast it with the darker urban tones. And the familiar allusions continue to be peppered throughout the story in creative ways. Gaynor's writing is full of rich, vivid imagery that this reader found a joy to consume.

This Oz-adjacent tales does a good job, even with some minor tweaks, at adding to the foundation of the franchise that Baum did not explore. For me, I found these additions strengthened the original without taking anything away from it.

"Long before Dorothy visits Oz, her aunt, Emily Gale, sets off on her own grand adventure, leaving gritty Chicago behind for Kansas and a life that will utterly change her, in this transporting novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor.

Chicago, 1924: Emily and her new husband, Henry, yearn to leave the bustle of Chicago for the promise of their own American dream among the harsh beauty of the prairie. But leaving the city means leaving Emily's beloved sister, Annie, who was once closer to her than anyone in the world.

Kansas, 1932: Emily and Henry have established their new home among the warmth of the farming community in Kansas. Aligned to the fickle fortunes of nature, their lives hold a precarious and hopeful purpose, until tragedy strikes and their orphaned niece, Dorothy, lands on their doorstep.

The wide-eyed child isn't the only thing to disrupt Emily's world. Drought and devastating dust storms threaten to destroy everything, and her much-loved home becomes a place of uncertainty and danger. When the past catches up with the present and old secrets are exposed, Emily fears she will lose the most cherished thing of all: Dorothy.

Bursting with courage and heart, Before Dorothy tells the story of the woman who raised a beloved heroine, and ponders the question: what is the true meaning of home?"

Because every true book lover has wondered about the women who raised our most iconic heroines.

I received a free DRC of this book through Netgalley. It's a fictional background story about Auntie Em from the Wizard of Oz. I found it fascinating how the author can craft such an imaginative story around a relatively minor movie character. It kept my attention and the emotions in the book were well-crafted and believable. I enjoyed the book although certain ways they behaved in the book drove me nuts just like a real sister would. I'm not a huge Wizard of Oz fan, but I enjoyed this book.

Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor

Watching The Wizard of Oz was an annual event when I was a child. I remember thinking Dorothy seemed awfully old back then and I guess she was to my kid self. While I would never miss the movie, I wasn't completely enamored with it since it seemed so loud and busy and there was singing and dancing. I wasn't a very sophisticated kid but then I don't think I've changed much on that count, all these decades later.

I think I recognized all the references to things from The Wizard of Oz. They were mostly subtle and I thought they were all well done, fitting into the world created by this author. I really liked how realistically I could see the book being the basis for the real book/movie. This story makes me appreciate The Wizard of Oz all the more than I did as a child.

I could really relate to this story in many ways because so many of my ancestors moved across the country during this time and earlier. A few of them could have been the Gales' neighbors and I know the thankless, impossible life most lived on the Kansas plains during that time. It was a devastating time in our history in so many ways and we know WWII is coming to make things even harder in the future.

The personality and depth that Gaynor gives to Emily and Henry is so welcome for me. Movie Dorothy's world didn't seem like one she'd want to go back to but I do see the arms of Emily and Henry, in this story, would be where home would be. This is my second book by this author and I look forward to reading more by her.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.

We learn of Auntie Em's life with her sister Annie in Chicago and her life in Kansas before and after seven-year-old Dorothy came to live with Em and Henry after Annie passed away.

Em and her sister lived in Chicago until Uncle Henry swept her off her feet and took her to Kansas.

Annie stayed in Chicago and married a man Em wasn't fond of - she wasn't even sure her sister loved him. Her sister had a secret that Em wanted to reveal, and it was something that came between them.

Em loved Kansas and her life on the farm, and when she was called back to Chicago to take her niece Dorothy to live with her, Em wondered how Dorothy would adapt to the rural life.

We go back and forth through both time periods that are filled with love and tenderness, and hope.

We learn of the hardships and the heartaches Auntie Em endured along with taking us through the depression, the stock market crash, and living in the dust bowl​ of the 1930s.

If you loved The Wizard of Oz and didn't know Auntie Em's story, BEFORE DOROTHY is a book you won't want to miss.

There are subtle mentions of the characters and scenes in The Wizard of Oz that will make you smile.

You will love how Toto got his name in this book - I'm guessing that is the real story about his name.

Auntie Em is a wonderful person who had a difficult and at times sad life.

I didn't really like her sister Annie - she was cold and only thought of herself.

BEFORE DOROTHY is another gem by Hazel Gaynor that you won't want to miss.

Hazel Gaynor's marvelous, descriptive writing pulls you right in and warms your heart.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Hazel Gaynor's Before Dorothy is a fantastic book about the Great Depression. If it stood on its own two feet--without the Dorothy tie-in--it would be an even better book. This is one of the best evocations of the era I've read, packed with small historical details that bring the narrative to life. Her version of Em feels like it could have been real (although, frankly, I think the movie meant them to be Great Aunt Em and Great Uncle Henry, rather than contemporaries of Dorothy's parents). Really, this is a book with just so much to recommend it--a little slice of Americana.