Margarita Montimore’s The Dollhouse Academy is a chilling, thought-provoking blend of dark academia, psychological thriller, and industry satire. Set in an elite boarding school for rising stars, the novel follows Ivy Gordon, a once-revered performer trapped in an endless cycle of secrecy and control, and Ramona Halloway, a newcomer desperate to prove herself in a world where talent is currency and competition is cutthroat.

Told through dual perspectives—Ivy’s desperate diary entries and Ramona’s present-day struggles—the narrative peels back the glossy facade of the Dollhouse Academy, revealing eerie medical exams, manipulative power structures, and a sinister truth lurking beneath its prestigious reputation. The novel deftly explores themes of ambition, exploitation, and the sacrifices demanded by the entertainment industry, all while maintaining a propulsive sense of mystery.

Montimore’s writing is immersive and cinematic, balancing suspense with deeply emotional character arcs. Fans of Black Swan, The Secret History, and Yellowjackets will be enthralled by this haunting, atmospheric tale. The Dollhouse Academy is both an unsettling thriller and a powerful meditation on the cost of chasing perfection.

This is a story about a secretive entertainment behemoth that has trained and produced some of the most popular stars of stage and screen through their famous Dollhouse Academy. Ramona and Grace are desperate to be accepted, despite the rumors and NDAs that must be signed. The story is told by Grace, who slowly realizes that not all is kosher at the Dollhouse Academy and through diary entries of Ivy Gordan, the biggest superstar that the Dollhouse Academy has ever produced. As Grace's star rises, Ramona is desperate to keep up. But finding out the truth becomes even more important than becoming famous.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for this digital e-arc.*

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I was hooked on “The Dollhouse Academy” from the first chapter. The novel is told in alternating POVs: Ivy Gordon, the legendary star of “In The Dollhouse,” recording her life story in diary entries, and then Ramona Holloway, a 22-year-old aspiring actor who, with her best friend Grace, are chosen to enter the Dollhouse Academy and work toward becoming huge acting and singing stars. For the first time, I was equally captivated by both storylines; I usually find one to be far more interesting than the other, but in this case they both held my interest. I kept turning the pages, eager to see what would happen next, and finished the novel in a single sitting.

My only issue was with the ending. I am hard to please when it comes to endings in general, and I realized about 75% of the way through that this story could not possibly end in a way that I would find satisfying. And as expected, the ending was rather flat and a bit disappointing, not taking the story into some of the more outlandish areas I thought it could have gone.

The reading journey up until the end, however, was well worth it. Overall this was an entertaining ride that I think most readers would enjoy!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Wow, this book was even better than I expected. One of my favorite things about Dollhouse Academy is that it's a slow decent into madness. The author slowly reveals things to you but the story still feels fast paced somehow (in the best way possible). I found that very impressive. We get dual timelines which converge onto each other, this adds a lot of suspense as well as helps us understand more and more about what's happening. Even with knowing the ending, this is a book I would certainly read again. There is a very real and deep sense of darkness and dread throughout creating a rich environment for the story. It's the kind of book where you want to hold your hands over your eyes and just peak through because you know bad things are going to happen to characters you like.

The author also does a great job of showing and not telling, leaving you space to think on your own, ponder and wonder. I really hope this book gets the attention that it deserves, I will be talking about it all year long! As of right now I am giving it 5 stars but over the course of the year, I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up in my favorites of the year.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Margarita Montimore, and Flatiron Books for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was a great palate cleanser read for me, in that it was suspenseful and fast-paced. I love anything that is culty vibes, especially in regard to show business, and I was hooked from the first page! The book moved steadily the whole time, and I appreciated the pace at which Montimore revealed information and clues as to what was happening. I do wish the overall logistics of what was happening in Project Understudy was a little more fleshed out, as the logistics are vague and don't necessarily work. There were a few loose ends in both characters and plot that felt glazed over just to make the book a shorter, easier read. I think Montimore could have really taken this book to the next level if she spent more time in Ivy's perspective and really just spent some more time in certain scenes/events instead of glossing over large periods of times just to move it to the next scene. The details of the world building of Dahlen/Dollhouse were also a bit inconsistent in that some details were really thought-out and then others were barely explained. Despite this, I was hooked the whole book and enjoyed reading about what was happening. It kept me guessing what the true horror of the Dollhouse Academy was, and I do think the overall vibes succeed!

I thought the premise was such a unique idea to weave fictional entertainment into the 20th century and build in an industry secret that felt very Stepford-esq.

I wanted to like this. At first I did, but 25% of the way through it started to stall out. The execution really relied on a friendship breakup that overpowered took away from the creepiness of the secrets that were unfolding. From a format perspective- Please stop writing using journal entries that read like a continuation of the story. No one writes in full conversations in quotes in their journal. This is a huge pet peeve of mine.

This book was bonkers! I think the author has written a zany and interesting novel, but I still felt like this book was too unbelievable. I wasn't sure I would like this novel because of the tv show element. I don't really like reading about celebrities, but the writing style is what drew me in. Even though the writing was strong, the story was so hard to fathom. This is definitely a book that will confuse you. It's very out there and unique. Decent novel, but ultimately, too outrageous for my personal taste.

Channeling Valley of the Dolls/Stepford Wives but more drawn out and boring. Found this to be a bit of a snooze- the pace was slow and even though the themes were promising I wasn’t terribly invested in the characters or the story. The audio is good though the one male was supposed to be a young sexy Brit and sounds more like Mr. Belvedere. Didn’t really work for me. Won’t be a fave of the month or year for me but seems to be one others enjoy. 3.5 stars rounded down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for permission to read this work prior to its publication date.

Ramona and Grace are childhood friends want to be actresses. When given the opportunity to train at an esteemed campus nicknamed “The Dollhouse” their friendship and perseverance are tested. Are they willing to give up everything they ever loved for everything they ever dreamed of?

I thought I would enjoy this book more. It had interesting twists and a satisfying conclusion, but I didn’t feel connected to the characters with the intensity I could have.

Margarita Montimore is an underrated author. I loved Oona Out of Order but I think The Dollhouse Academy may be even better.

Two young girls desperate to break into the world of entertainment are accepted into an ultra exclusive and mysterious academy that is known for producing mega stars, but at what cost? I don’t feel like this had anything new or interesting to say about the pitfalls of celebrity and it was painfully obvious where the story was going from page one. I really had to force myself to finish it.

Came for the potential 90s nostalgia steeped in horror, stayed for the cultishness that was more bone chilling than the fame of it all. Gripping and well written. Long in some places, but overall not a slog to get through.

What a weird and wild book! I haven't been as taken with Montimore's novels after her debut OONA OUT OF ORDER (which I loved) but THE DOLLHOUSE ACADEMY is pretty good. I don't even know what to think about this book, it is so not what I expected. Set in the late 90s, Ramona and Grace, best friends from Brooklyn, are picked to be a part of the Dahlen Entertainment "Dollhouse" which is a talent incubator that has produced the biggest TV shows, movies, and music since the 80s. Things are not what they seem though, as lots of weird, sinister stuff happens on the campus (a close down private school/town in upstate NY) and we learn more about their biggest star, Ivy, who is starting to have doubts about her career and the Dollhouse herself.

You definitely have to suspend disbelief for a lot of the book. I like that Montimore situated these huge blockbusters of TV and music up against real competitors of that time period, like Britney Spears and must-see Thursday NBC TV like ER and Friends, to give you an idea of just how big Dahlen is. The science fiction stuff is fun, but peters out at the end a bit. I kind of wish it went more full X-Men, since that's what the academy felt like in the first place. It's a fun romp if you don't take it took seriously, I suppose! I wish the author had dove deep a bit more, maybe even making this a book series, as I feel like the surface was barely skimmed and the ending was rushed. I also wanted to know more about the tertiary characters!

If you're fascinated by the mechanics of fame—and suspect it's far darker than it appears—this novel is for you. When two BFFs are admitted to a secretive show-biz training facility, they get a lot more than voice lessons and media training. It's like a book-length episode of "Black Mirror." Scary, twisted, and maybe a little too real.

Thanks to @NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the advance reader copy.

This was wild! I enjoyed the strong culty vibes and how the story pushed the characters to consider what they would do for fame. It felt like a campy hollywood story and a cult, body horror, story all mixed up in one. Very intriguing!

The Dollhouse Academy is a mysterious read that delves into the lives of the famous. The fearless protagonist Ramona and her friend Grace get a lucky break with the producer of the famous show In the Dollhouse. As they are propelled to infamy, the plot starts to unravel as a hidden secret within the company attempts to tear them apart. We also meet the beautiful Ivy who is also a member of the academy. 
I thought the strongest relationship was between Ramona and Grace, which kept me rooting for them the whole way through! The plot was very propulsive, and included intrigue as it deepened. Overall, very well done! 

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What are you willing to give up for the price of fame? It it's everything, you may be perfect for the Dollhouse Academy.

This was a page turner. It explores the lives of people so desperate for fame that they will alter everything about there lives to attain a glimpse of success.

I thought the characters were very well developed and the story was very fun and suspenseful. If I have one complaint, and what kept it from being 5⭐️ it was wrapped up rather quickly and unrealistically.

I am thankful to NetGalley for the ARC.

SO SO GOOD. So compelling and interesting. Fast paced and great audio, too!

The Dollhouse Academy dives deep into human nature, yet captures popular culture perfectly, while ultimately proposing some ideas that definitely make you think.

Thanks to Ramona and Grace, we’re welcomed to The Dollhouse Academy and the dreams they help fulfill. However, it’s not that simple and the darker side reveals itself. The honeymoon is quickly over and all that glitters is definitely not gold.

Advanced reader copy provided by Flatiron Books but all opinions are my own.

As a fan of delving into the intriguing world of Hollywood/celebrity conspiracies, the premise of this novel immediately piqued my interest. In The Dollhouse Academy, an established celebrity is striving to break free from the clutches of a toxic industry to live authentically. On the flip side, two ambitious young women are on a quest to reach the status of their idol. The alternating perspectives between Ivy and Ramona offer a fascinating glimpse into the intricate psychology of the characters as they navigate the complexities of the entertainment industry. Montimore's skill in giving the characters unique voices creates a palpable distinction between the two narrators, and the thought-provoking narrative keeps the reader intellectually stimulated.

The Academy has a larger-than-life reputation for producing the biggest stars in the entertainment industry. But there is a lot of mystery surrounding it, and not everything is what it seems. Ivy's initial diary entry sets the theme of reality vs. perception by giving enough information to cause intrigue. Ramona's real-time experience offers a taste of the strange happenings in the Dollhouse. Paying close attention to her presents a side of the entertainment industry that we, as fans, don't necessarily get to see. This perspective shows how friendships struggle and even break, how the industry can strip one out of their authenticity, and most importantly, how deceitful it can be to those trying to achieve stardom.

Conspiracy videos have nothing on Montimore because the author does not leave us with holes. The things going on in the Dollhouse are wild, but everything is tied up nicely in this world. Imagine all of the craziest and wildest Holywood conspiracies and experience them step by step through the eyes of a young performer. This is what makes this novel successful: the ability to take the reader to places fans can never go to satisfy a genuine curiosity about the risks and dangers of the entertainment industry. Montimore's interest and curiosity led her to research the lives of real entertainers, which influenced this text. The author did an excellent job of bringing this to life in the novel through fictional characters whose experiences feel relatable.

I would have preferred this to be faster-paced, but I understand that would have diminished the depth of the characters' experiences. Overall, it is an entertaining read that leaves the reader with an important message about the realities of the entertainment industry and the trade-offs between authenticity and achieving stardom. Without coming off as preachy, Ramona's experience makes us consider how we can achieve what we want; it won't happen as we envisioned it. Sometimes, that is for the best.

The Dollhouse Academy
By: Margarita Montimore

4 Stars

This is a story about fame and the amount of pain that comes with gaining stardom. This story covers Ivy through her diary entries. We also see best friends, Ramona and Grace, as they begin the journey into the Dollhouse. As they soon learn, it is not all it's made out to be. This book is harsh and real. Secrets begin to come out, and lives are forever changed.

This was a well written story that really shows the ins and outs of trying to be a star. Many people don't know what really happens "behind the scenes." This book was a good look into a mysterious academy that makes people into stars. Each character brought different aspects to the story. Each, dynamic, and different. The Dollhouse was filled with drama and secrets. It was mysterious and thrilling. It continued to get better until the very shocking end.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review