The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper is an absolute delight—an enchanting blend of history, art, and mystery that kept me turning pages late into the night. The dual timeline narrative weaves together the lives of Tildy, a present-day curator in San Francisco, and Cora, a miniaturist from the early 20th century, with intricate precision, much like the dollhouses at the heart of the novel. Hooper's storytelling is rich with historical detail, transporting readers from Belle Époque Paris to wartime England and beyond, while also delivering an emotionally satisfying tale of resilience, creativity, and the hidden stories of remarkable women. If you love books that uncover forgotten histories, celebrate the art of craftsmanship, and offer a touch of nostalgia, this one is a must-read.

This novel will appeal to historical fiction readers—especially fans of art, architecture, miniatures, or women’s history. Author Elise Hooper interweaves the lives of two female protagonists in a dual timeline. Tildy is a modern-day curator at a museum in San Francisco who makes a serendipitous and intriguing discovery. Cora Hale is a miniaturist who designed and built bespoke dollhouses for grown women from World War I into the 1960s. Both women experience tragedy within their families, keep secrets from those around them, and are transformed by the choices they make.

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.

It might be a little early to start adding books to my best books of 2025 list, but I'm feeling pretty confident that The Library of Lost Dollhouses is going to end up on that list.

In a small San Francisco museum, the head curator makes a startling discovery--behind a hidden wall are two untouched dollhouses, complete with miniatures showcasing actual homes in the past. With the museum on the verge of a funding crisis, Tildy, the curator, seeks to find the story behind theses dollhouses, piecing together clues within the craft in the hopes of learning more about where they came from and how they came to be hidden in her museum.

The book takes the reader through time, beginning with pre-WW1 France and moving forward, as the past heroine Cora moves to France to escape NYC, discovering a community of arts that helps her reinvent herself. Present day Tildy is left to unravel these clues in the hopes that her museum can somehow be saved. I absolutely loved the story behind this, as it reminded me of a few dollhouse mysteries from my own childhood. There's something about the concept that was just pure nostalgia and I simply could not put the book down.

I thought the book was a nice, cozy read but I think the character development could have been a little deeper. Each individual miniature house could have been its own book in a series. There is lots of potential here. I also wish there could have been more to the ending with Tildy.

Dollhouses and miniatures are some of my favorite things as well as dollhouses, especially antiques. Therefore when I saw this book, I knew immediately that I had to read it. I was intrigued and began my reading of this eagerly.

The writing was easy to read, I loved the history and how-to of dollhouse building, I found the plot engaging, but the characters were a bit too dull for my tastes. The story wasn’t as entracing as I could have wished for. Ultimately, I was left with more questions than answers and I wanted more from this.

Recommended with the caveat that while this reader definitely enjoyed it, I was left wanting more.



Thank you to William Morrow Paperbacks and NetGalley for the DRC

First off, if you were a childhood fan of The Doll People series by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin, this book gave me a strong nostalgic yearn for those; but The Library of Lost Dollhouses is like the adult version of it. Hooper creates this very meticulous world- like the descriptions of the dollhouses by the artist is quite imaginative. I have always gravitated towards books about dollhouses and the secrets in which the houses themselves hold (much like actual houses) or the inhabitants, so this was an enjoyable read.

I felt like was going to truly love this book. I enjoy historical fiction and also I am fascinated by miniatures, but I was not able to enjoy it as much as I thought because I did not feel invested in any of the characters. While the story had promise, I did not feel it was for me. I am sure there will be many that will enjoy it though.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the digital arc.

A unique and delightful combination of two of my favorite things: historical fiction and miniatures. Elise Hooper does an exquisite job of weaving together this multigenerational tale, which includes romance, suspense and history. The characters are authentic and vulnerable and easy to fall in love with. For fans of B. A. Shapiro and Brendan Slocumb.

I love books about libraries and this book did a beautiful job of connecting stories from the past and present. Beautiful descriptions and a mystery I enjoyed reading!

A story told through alternate timelines when a young historian discovers hidden secrets in dollhouses. An entertaining historical fiction.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #LibraryOfDollhouses

Tildy Barrows is the head curator of a beautiful library in San Francisco, a place she not only considers her workplace but also her home. Thriving off of a neat and scheduled routine, Tildy makes an unexpected discovery in the library that rocks her world and changes not only the library’s future but her life as well. She discovers dollhouses. But they aren’t just any dollhouses, no, these miniatures of exquisite homes hold secrets about the women who lived in each house the dollhouses replicated. From the glistening streets of Paris to war-stricken England to sunny California, Tildy embarks on a journey to know the meaning behind each clue hidden in the miniatures and understand how and why she is connected to the artist.

First off, the cover is adorable.

Second off, the book itself wasn’t adorable, but the story was good, and I enjoyed reading it. It did seem to drag on a bit at the beginning, but once you hit the 35-40% mark, it gets really interesting.

The story flowed well, even with the POV switches. The writing was easy to read and had a good balance of dialogue and description. The plot was good and well-structured; I didn’t feel confused or left in the dark about anything that occurred or about any of the characters. The setting was a perfect fit, and I particularly loved the bits about Paris and England. And the history behind everything was so fun! I admit that I am not a fan of building dollhouses or miniatures of anything because I can’t build one for the life of me, but it was so cool to read about how to make one and how beautiful they are when they are completed. It was also great to see how women managed to do what they loved despite it being "a man's world."

What I did have a problem with was the characters. Not that they were horrible human beings, but they seemed kind of…bland. I didn’t connect with the characters like I wanted to, but I rooted for them nonetheless because I understood their struggles and wanted them to overcome them somehow beyond the pages. 😂 It felt like the book was more for and about the dollhouses than the characters, which is why I’m giving this a 3.5 and not four stars. This book, for me, is a one-and-done type of book. I read it once. Great. I’ll maybe recommend it to a friend or two. I’ll keep it on the shelf. On to the next book. 🙂

I received an arc from William Morrow via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.

#TheLibraryofLostDollhouses #NetGalley

I enjoyed this for the most part. I found the idea of a dollhouse builder hiding mysteries within the walls, rooms, and tiny decor of her houses unique and fascinating. The author wove the timelines together nicely and the history was interesting. I love tiny things and enjoyed the details of how the artist made all the intricate pieces of her houses. The mystery of the storyline drew me in and I was delighted with the ending. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book! I loved the cozy mystery vibe of this book! Unfortunately, however, I did not finish the entire book. The author has a spectacular talent for beautiful descriptions, however I found them to be a bit overused. This being said, longer descriptions are something that I particularly struggle to read, so just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it wouldn't be great for someone else!

Thank you, #Partner @williammorrowbooks, @harpercollins, and @netgalley for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 4/1/25.

WOW, sometimes a book comes along and just steals your heart away! Well, this is one of those books. I love #miniatures, and the way #elisehooper describes the dollhouses down to every last detail was done with perfection. I could not wait to find out the big reveal behind the mystery throughout the book, and the wait was worth it. I fell in love with all the characters, and I truly did not want this book to end. Pre-order and add this one to your TBR. You will not be disappointed!

Current time: Tildy Barrows is the head curator of a beautiful historic library in San Francisco. She finds a hidden room, and she discovers two extraordinary dollhouses. Little does she know she is about to discover hidden secrets throughout the dollhouses and will delve into a mystery that she never could have imagined.

1910: Cora Hale arrives in France after a scandal leaves her packing her bags and leaving NYC. She needs a place to stay so she can pursue her passion for art. She meets Belva Lafarge, and the two instantly hit it off, and Belva gives her a place to stay. Cora's story spans through decades, and she makes a name for herself designing dollhouses and meeting incredible people along the way, but will her past catch up to her?

Tildy, the head curator of a house museum in San Francisco reminiscent of the Isabelle Steward Gardner Museum, discovers a secret room in the museum and inside are two exquisite doll houses. Clearly made by an artist, Tildy quickly wants to know more and then she sees her mother’s name in the dollhouse. All sorts of questions arise and careful research ensues. Parallel is the story of the doll house artist. Fascinating mystery, historical fiction, friendship, relationship, family, and so much more - story. Sure to be a good book club title!

I was immediately intrigued after reading the description of this book and couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. The Library of Lost Dollhouses is an enchanting tale of hidden histories and self-discovery. Elise Hooper takes readers on a journey through time as librarian Tildy Barrows unearths exquisite dollhouses that hold long-buried secrets. Spanning Belle Époque Paris, postwar England, and 1950s Hollywood, the story is rich with historical detail. I found the story to be very heartfelt and I look forward to discovering more from the author!

Historical Fiction Lovers this one is for you!

The story really starts to unfold when Tilda who works at a historical library museum in San Francisco, stumbles upon a secret room which happens to have two of the most detailed dollhouses she's ever seen.

Then enters Cora Hale- a miniaturist who designed the dollhouses. The story goes back and forth between the two in third person.
While I found the plot to be a little unbelievable, I still enjoyed the hopeful nature of the writing.

Thank you to Net Gallery and the Publisher for the copy.

Thanks to William Morrow for an advanced copy of The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper. I absolutely loved Fast Girls and the Angels of the Pacific so was eagerly anticipating her newest book and I loved The Library of Lost Dollhouses. 

I loved that this book was more on the fictional side. All of the characters are fictional but loosely inspired by some incredible women. The author's note was great and I loved seeing who she was inspired by. I also love that she was inspired by a dollhouse that has been in her family for 5 generations and once she started doing research on miniatures she knew her next book needed to be about dollhouses and how during 2020 she started restoring and remodeling her dollhouse. 

A librarian finds two historic dollhouses in a hidden room and she embarks to find out more about these beautifully crafted miniatures. Tilly knows that Belva Curtis LeFarge the heiress (who established the library where Tilly works) hid these dollhouses for a reason but why? As Tilly finds out who crafted these masterpieces it leads her to find more dollhouses and the hidden history in them as well as a family secret of her own. 

I was immediately drawn into this story and loved reading about Belva, Cora from the early 1900s to the 1960s and Tilly in the present. There was a little bit of a mystery and complex storytelling but it all comes together beautifully. I really loved this book. 

I love a great historical fiction that is based on history but where the characters are fictional and you can really get into the story without wondering, did this really happen to that person... 

The Library of Lost Dollhouses comes out on April 1st!

The Library of Lost Dollhouses is told in two timelines, Tildys story in 2024 and Coras, in the early 1900's. Tildy is a very organized archival librarian at the Bel in San Francisco who is devastated when she finds out her beloved library is in financial trouble. She accidently finds two incredible dollhouses in a secret room and begins to investigate their origins, hoping to put on an exhibit that will bring in the funds to save the library. The author tells us the story of the dollhouses by alternating timelines with Coras story, an artist who left San Francisco in 1910 as a 17 year old in disgrace for the Paris art community.

I found this story very interesting, although I enjoyed Coras storyline a bit more than Tildy. Learning about the world of miniatures was fascinating and the authors tale of Cora and the people she comes across held my attention throughout. This story line incorporates women's roles in world war one, and a number of brave, spirited ladies the author has based on real characters, while in the current story line Tildy was not as strong of a character, in my opinion.

It is a story of exploring your past, growth, and strong women and was well worth my time.
Thank you to net galley and William Morrow Books for the digital galley in return for an honest review.

I picked up THE LOST LIBRARY OF DOLLHOUSES because I really enjoyed Elise Hooper’s ANGELS OF THE PACIFIC. This story follows Tildy, a librarian in San Francisco, who discovers two hidden dollhouses that lead her on a journey to uncover their fascinating history. The book spans a century, weaving in stories of overlooked women, creativity, and unexpected connections.

Halfway through reading, I visited Amsterdam and was thrilled to see some of the dollhouses mentioned in the book at the Rijksmuseum. It brought the story to life in such a special way! This is a warm and engaging read, perfect for fans of history and mysteries with heart. Releases April 1.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.