This was an enjoyable book for the most part. I had a dollhouse as a child and it was fascinating to learn more about dollhouses in general. The dual timelines were confusing at times - I wish it would be stated when the viewpoint was changing. I felt the romance aspect was sort of thrown in there - maybe for political correctness? It just seemed unnecessary - didn't add much to the story.

The narration was very good.

I enjoyed this audiobook and it read quickly. I used to love dollhouses when I was younger so this book automatically intrigued me. It was a good mystery and I would recommend the audiobook.

This was a really intriguing story! I'm not very familiar with dollhouses, but this gave me a great insight into the storytelling capabilities of them and how they have been woven in history. There was a nice mix of historical mystery and self-discovery to make this fast read enjoyable. I wish I could have spent more time with the houses and had some more details, but overall this was a fun read! If you need a summer read, you might want to pick this one up!

Thank you to Netgalley, William Morrow Publishing and Harper Audio for an ARC copy of this book.

What a magical experience! Such a unique story plot and I thoroughly enjoyed this gem! Little tidbits of information that was scattered throughout the book made this even better. Mysterious miniature houses being found is one view point of the story while who built them is the other view point. This novel was a duel timeline and character book. While I enjoyed this book I do wish I would have physically read it versus listening to it. At times it was very confusing especially when I wasn’t sure all the time which point of view we were on. I think this would have benefited with stating that at every change.

A walk in our lovely local park plus an enjoyable audio book? Yes, please! It's definitely a winning combination and I was happy to finish this one getting my steps in and taking in a beautiful Indiana afternoon.

In the Library of Lost Dollhouses, we meet Tildy Barrows, a curator at a library in San Francisco. We learn part of the story through her eyes as she discovers a secret room containing two exquisite dollhouses. Inside one of the houses, she finds a miniature portrait of her mother. She begins to research the origin of the houses and uncovers secrets about the lives of the women who commissioned them and hopes to uncover the connection to her mother. The other side of the story is told by Cora Hale, the maker of the houses. She's a mysterious character with a past she is running from when she falls into dollhouse making as a profession. She's both artist and secret keeper as she constructs the houses and incorporates the secrets of the women who love them.

Overall, I enjoyed both the story and the narration. I liked how while it wasn't nonfiction, the story wove realistic elements about the times and places depicted. I love miniatures so I found myself enjoying the parts describing the actual construction of the houses and their detailed elements quite a bit. I wish I could see the houses in real life! I stayed until the end where the author spoke about her inspiration and research that went into the book and was glad I stuck around for that, too.

Thank you to @netgalley for the ALC.
#thelibraryoflostdollhouses #elisehooper #audiobook #netgalley #newrelease

Very nice mystery! This book kept me hooked from the first chapter with the interesting characters, places and storylines. Lots of historical references and plot stories, which is what I love.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio version. I absolutely adored this book. I have always loved dollhouses but to imagine them not only being beautiful but being able to hide family secrets was fascinating. The world of miniatures is an art form in itself. I wanted them to find more dollhouses so I could hear about their history!

I found The Library of Lost Dollhouses to be a lovely historical fiction story. Told in duel timelines, we follow modern day Tildy as she discovers a number of lost dollhouses and past Cora as she builds the dollhouses and the stories that shape them. I was invested in each storyline and loved the historical aspect (not always my favorite part).

Some reviews mention this being a romance. While that is a piece of it, I wouldn't classify this as a romance, so don't let that scare you away.

The narration was great.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarperAudio for a free copy of #TheLibraryOfLostDollhouses by Elise Hooper. All opinions are my own.

This was a very good book. I loved how intricate the details of the dollhouses were. Very well written and a great read set in two time lines. It was part romance, part mystery, where we follow the main character trying to find out more about the dollhouses history.
I will recommend this book to the ladies of my library book club.
I enjoyed the narration, it was well made and made it easy to follow along with the story.

If the blurb had made it clear that this is a dual timeline romance novel I would not have requested an advance copy. I generally find that one period of these books is vastly superior to the other. In this case, I found the present day story more boring than the earlier period. However, I didn’t feel that either the author or the narrator of the audiobook was successful at differentiating the two time periods. This wasn’t for me.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.

Have you ever looked into a dollhouse and wondered about the creator of all these details? Enter the fascinating world of miniaturists. A librarian finds a secret room that holds beautiful, intricate dollhouses. We learn that each of these dollhouses are made by a remarkable female artist who was determined to empower the women who commissioned each house to include their private secrets (careers, relationships, etc) so that they would be seen and remembered.

It was amazing to learn how miniatures played a role in WWI and later for Disney. Be sure to read the author’s note, you will be surprised.

The narrator was clear and comforting, providing the right style for this gentle historical fiction.

Thank you to Netgalley, William Morrow Publishing and Harper Audio for an audio ARC.

𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄𝐒 ~ by Elise Hopper ~ A Thank you to Netgalley, William Morrow Publishing and Harper Audio for an ARC copy of this book. This is my first book by this author who writes primarily in the Historical Fiction Genre. This has a dual timeline structure and at first it was a bit jarring to make the switch and to connect to the story or any of the characters in either because of the changing. I found myself wondering if I was enjoying this or not. Then, at about the halfway point (or a little before), I realized that I was invested and interested in the story and the things I was learning. There are plenty of plot threads running through this and because of that, I think it was trying to be a lot of things, hence there were several themes and plotlines that remained underdeveloped. I love hearing about the role that women played in WWI, but it was just a little mention of occupations here and there. There was a drop of romantic connection and of a formed relationship that we revisit at the end so while not much definition is given to why there was a connection, we get some closure on both of these. The best part was the WWI Vets, the life of the dollhouse maker and the interesting things I learned about the value of Miniatures in our lives both in the past and present. When I finished this, I can definitely say I had a good experience when all was said and done and it did teach me plenty of new information and I adore that from a book.
The aforementioned makes this tough to rate… so,... I am going with an odd score. I do think fans of a lighter, cozier type of Historical Fiction would really like this book. I am glad I read it.
⭐⭐⭐💫✨(3.75) I could go 4….
𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐥! 📚♥️

I fell in love with this book I was hoped from the very beginning the story was so interesting and really kept you engrossed wanting to know what was going to happen next Not only did you get the amazing mystery of the dollhouses but you had the beautiful love story of the two main characters that you got to see develop throughout the entire book The writing style was absolutely beautiful but also the narrator had an amazing voice

A delightful story told on two timelines. The first is present day San Francisco. Tildy is the curator at a curator at a archive library. She finds a hidden room with two hidden and magnificent doll houses and on the same day learns that the library is running short on money to survive. She decides to find out the mystery of the doll houses in an effort to save the library.

The other timeline is of the woman who made the full houses where, we learn her history and how the houses were made.

This was ac great story and I couldn't wait to see what happened!

I was excited to receive this as an ALC! After hearing good reviews from friends, I was hoping to enjoy.

The authors note at the end describing the inspiration for the book was great. It seemed like the secrets the dollhouses hid were the same type/kind of secret, until the end where super cool and amazing secrets of the dollhouses came to light. If the book would have focused more on the empowerment of historical women, the book would have appealed to me more.

The narration was absolutely top notch.

Sadly, the story had a lot of promise but fell a little flat to me.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper is a captivating historical fiction novel that intertwines the lives of two remarkable women across different time periods, united by the discovery of exquisite dollhouses hidden within a San Francisco library. This dual-timeline narrative offers readers a rich tapestry of history, art, and personal transformation.

In 2024, Tildy Barrows, the head curator of a historic library, stumbles upon two meticulously crafted dollhouses concealed in a forgotten room. As she delves into their origins, she uncovers connections to Belva Curtis LeFarge, the library's founder, and a lineage of women whose stories have been overlooked by history. Tildy's journey to preserve the library and its legacy becomes intertwined with the lives of these women, leading her to unexpected revelations about her own heritage.

The novel seamlessly transitions between Tildy's present-day endeavors and flashbacks to the lives of the women behind the dollhouses. From Belle Époque Paris to post-World War I England and 1950s California, Hooper paints vivid portraits of women who defied societal norms to pursue their passions and make significant contributions in their respective fields. The dollhouses serve as poignant symbols of their creativity, resilience, and the often-unacknowledged roles they played in shaping history.

Hooper's prose is both evocative and accessible, drawing readers into the intricate details of miniature artistry and the broader historical contexts in which these women lived. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing for deep character development while maintaining narrative momentum. The themes of female empowerment, the preservation of history, and the enduring impact of art are thoughtfully explored throughout the novel.
While the book's title may suggest a primary focus on the dollhouses themselves, it is the stories of the women and their legacies that take center stage. The dollhouses are not mere curiosities but serve as gateways to understanding the lives and contributions of these often-overlooked figures.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses is a beautifully crafted novel that will resonate with readers who appreciate historical fiction that highlights the lives of women who have shaped our world in subtle yet profound ways. Elise Hooper has created a narrative that is both enlightening and inspiring, offering a compelling exploration of history, art, and the enduring power of storytelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The author's passion shines through in this book. It's a lovely premise of healing and finding yourself. However, I didn’t connect with it or the characters like I wanted to. That's a reflection of me as a reader and not the book! It has great potential to appeal to other readers and I encourage others to try it out! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

This was quite an enjoyable audiobook. I loved the dual POV and dual timeline, seeing how the past connects to the present is such a fun concept. I really enjoyed seeing the parts about different moments in woman's history and how they were involved in the war. I did feel the last third felt it was trying to tie a lot of loose threads that had come about throughout the first two thirds and it seemed a bit much but still enjoyable. The idea of the dollhouses and how they were able to hide secrets was really fun and descriptive enough I was able to picture them while listening. I also enjoyed the author's note at the end and how she explained who the characters were based off of in real history.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses was an excellent read. I loved the character development and the writing was propulsive. Great narration!

I really enjoyed the pacing of this novel aided in part by a great narrator of the audiobook. This book explores women's sometimes overlooked contributions to history through the lens of uncovered dollhouses. I thought this perspective was very unique, and the book was such a page turner. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult | HarperAudio for a copy of this book for an honest review.