A truly mind-blowing portrayal of one woman’s journey through both joy and great sorrow, and the many lessons her heart learns along the way. I would urge every woman to give this great book a chance. Also, loved author’ spin with this magical tale.

The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale by Virginia Kantra

This is such a sweet story and it put a smile on my face through most of it. That's not to say that it is all happy times. Far from it! In Dorothy Gale and her three new friends, each have some major struggles, past and present. Struggles you wouldn't wish on others and struggles that can haunt them forever if they aren't able to really face up to the hurt and challenges of the past and present.

Dorothy, from Kansas, has just landed in Dublin so she can join the writing program at Trinity College Dublin. She wasted two years of her life in a relationship with a much older faculty member at her old university. Little did she know just how much that man was using her until his latest novel came out, her name barely changed in it, portraying her as a life sucking vampire and overall disgusting person. Dorothy, whose main goal in life is to not rock anyone's boat, who tries to make everyone happy, now has a horrible and unfounded reputation. That's the reason she's run away to Dublin. Dorothy is not in Kansas anymore!

Her two men friends both have deeply ingrained hurts and it takes a while for them to open up while Dorothy can't help wearing her feelings on her sleeve. All three of them are afraid of being hurt again. Despite being very different, each man is attractive and attracted to Dorothy, who has a lot of baggage to unload before she will be able to move forward. But that is why she is in Dublin, to change herself and the way she thinks about herself.

Her third friend, Reeti, has had a much easier life, if looking from the outside. But she's bound by tradition and culture to follow her parents' wishes even though they clash with what she wants in life. With these three friends we have the need for a heart, a brain, and courage and just maybe, while they help Dorothy, she can help them find their way.

Dorothy and her friends need each other both for the support they can give and that they can get. Throughout the story they use quotes from authors, books, and copycats to bring their points across to the others and those discussions can show that not just one interpretation is the right interpretation. I knew just about all the book references, which was fun, but usually a character will mention where a quote came from even if I wasn't sure.

Thank you to Elisha at Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.

I absolutely adored Virginia Kantra's Little Women adaptations, and so I was very curious about her next novel based on The Wizard of Oz. Told in multiple points of view, Kantra writes with such compelling language that truly allows the reader to dive into the story from the very first chapter. It's so fun yet mystical, and I ended up surprising myself with exactly how much I liked this one. Like, I truly did not want to put this book down, which I particularly attribute to the vulnerable characters, snappy word choice. Oh, and just like Kantra wanted, The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale does make you feel head-over-heels in love with Ireland. Oh, even more head-over-heels if you've already fallen for the Emerald Isle.

I absolutely loved this book. The way the author wove the elements from the original Wizard of Oz into this modern day romance was really brilliant. I was rooting for Dorothy and Tim the entire way. The ending made the sappy romantic in me completely swoon. Highly recommend this one.

The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale is a captivating and vibrant retelling of Dorothy's journey to the Emerald City. Kantra skillfully presents a refreshing and empowering narrative, following a young woman who finds herself in Dublin, far from her familiar surroundings. Determined to rebuild her life after enduring a devastating tornado of humiliation and heartbreak, Dorothy embarks on a transformative quest. This poignant novel delves into the process of healing from profound wounds explores the essence of home, and celebrates the gratifying triumph of reclaiming one's own narrative."

“The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale” may be a story inspired by “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, but this contemporary reimagining is about STEPPING OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE and FINDING OUT THE POWER YOU HAVE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN INSIDE OF YOU, ALL ALONG!

And, I LOVE that concept! ❤️

Dorothy “Dee” Gale grew up with her Uncle Henry and Aunt Em in Kansas. But when Dee’s relationship with Grayson Kettering, a graduate school faculty member and bestselling novelist, ends in humiliation, she finds herself caught up in a “tornado of negative publicity”!

Looking for a fresh start, Dee applies to, and gets accepted into, a writing program at Trinity College Dublin.

And, suddenly, Dorothy (Dee) definitely isn’t in Kansas anymore!

Along the way on her new journey, she will meet Sam Clery—a guy who may be loyal to a fault, and who doesn’t realize just how SMART he really is-Tim Woodman-a guy who wears an armor-like shield to protect his HEART and Reeti Kaur, a friend who offers great support and advice, but lacks the COURAGE to practice what she preaches- and tell her parents what her own dreams are.

Will her path (yellow brick road) to the Emerald Isle (Emerald City) lead to her own fairy tale ending?

When I was offered the opportunity to read this early copy, I knew I had to download it, since I have been meaning to read Virginia Kantra’s work for awhile now! Her books include “Meg and Jo” and “Beth and Amy”, contemporary retellings of “Little Women” which received starred reviews from “Publishers Weekly” and “Booklist” and praise in “People Magazine” and “USA Today”, but which somehow, I haven’t gotten around to reading (yet!!)

And, I wasn’t disappointed!

Well developed characters, messy relationships, and strong women, woven into a ENTERTAINING story made this one a winner for me! I flew through it, dare I say, like a witch on a broom? 🧙🏻‍♀️😉

Available December 5, 2023.

Thank You to Berkley for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review.

I love The Wizard of Oz, and I had high hopes for this reimagining, but sadly, it fell a bit flat for me. Overall, it was uneven, as some parts were a bit generic, and others were great. If you like adventure stories with a bit of romance, this may be one to check out.

I'm in love with this contemporary retelling of The Wizard of Oz. Dee (Dorothy Gale) must get away, so she finds the furthest program possible to finish her master's in Ireland. There, she meets a brooding dropout who thinks he has no brains, a jaded businessman who thinks he has no heart and a spunky college student who thinks she has no courage. Together, they will help each other see who they are and how they are exactly who they need to be. If you want to be swept away in a contemporary adventure with a bit of romance, I highly recommend the Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale.

Virginia Kantra resculpts The Wonderful Wizard of Oz into a non-magical but still fun to read story about one woman’s coming of age. This Dorothy’s story is a trip over the rainbow that takes the reader to unexpected places.

Dorothy – Dee - Gale and her younger sister, Toni, were raised mainly by a string of babysitters and then their strict Aunt Em while their mother, Judy, pursued her artistic passions. Dee, who has long yearned to escape her roots and live in her own sunlight, falls into a relationship with pompous Lit. professor, Grayson Kettering while attending grad school in Kansas. Because he’s a bestselling author, when his relationship with Dee goes south, she becomes grist for his creative mill. She is eventually transformed into the lightly fictionalized subject of his also-bestselling, optioned-for-a movie book, Destiny Gale.

Dee doesn’t wait out the ensuing publicity storm, which floods her inbox with looky-loos and obsessive creeps; she chooses to flee to Ireland, where she applies to participate in a one-and-done writing program at Trinity College in Dublin. She tells Toni she’s going to write her dissertation and then come home, but what Dee really wants is a fresh start.

Step by step, and to her astonishment, she soon finds community, camaraderie, and the affection of two very different men. There’s the lightheaded Sam Cleary, who has become a newsagent instead of pursuing college, and the icy and stiff-upper lipped (and stubborn) Tim Woodman. Reeti Kaur, who becomes Dee’s closest friend, wishes she had the ‘noive' to tell her parents that she wants to be a teacher instead of going into the family business. And then there’s Dee’s two entirely different mentors in writing; the supportive department admin Glenda Norton and her graduate advisor, the seemingly-witchy Maeve Ward. Will Dee find a permanent home in Ireland, or is her trip, like Dorothy’s along the Yellow Brick Road, merely a brief interlude?

I liked much of Kantra’s retellings of Little Women, (Meg & Jo and Beth & Amy) and here she goes one step beyond that dual-part story by setting Dorothy on a completely different path than Baum does. The transposition of moral and good-hearted Dorothy into the imperfect world of academia works really well, and all of the people Dee meets along the way fascinate the reader.

The romantic triangle is very much typical stuff, and perhaps the book’s weakest point; but Dee’s relationship with Tim, in particular, is very well thought-out, captured, and written. Her friendships are great, but a real standout – unsurprising after reading her Little Women duology – is the sister relationship between Dee and Toni.

The peek into academic life in Ireland is excellent. It’s worth noting that the book deals heavily with misogyny and sexism, from academic racism to catcalling, and manages to do so with aplomb.

Everything about the book improves upon the work Kantra has already established. The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale will more than earn a spot on your keeper shelf.

THE FAIRYTALE LIFE OF DOROTHY GALE is a super fun novel perfect for fans of light-hearted women's fiction. The author does a wonderful job of adapting The Wizard of Oz into a more modern story. The original characters and theme are woven throughout the narrative and definitely noticeable to the reader. The story follows Dee as she searches for her place in the world. It's an immediately relatable personal journey, and the reader is sure to smile as Dee encounters characters that bring to mind characters from Oz. Ultimately, this is a story about finding confidence and facing your fears.

Beautiful amazing gorgeous


Thank you soooooo much netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced review copy if this book💗
"I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Honestly, I didn't find this to be a very good reimagining of The Wizard of Oz. As it's own thing, it seemed somewhat better, although fairly generic with its themes. It didn't hold my interest.

This was a twist on The Wizard of Oz. It was a great story. Great world building great characters! If you love the wizard of oz you will adore this book.