2024 San Francisco - Tildy is a libriarian who loves and knows every inch of "her" library until one day she finds a hidden room with an incredibly detailed dollhouse....and a bit of a personal mystery. This story line set-up had me ready for a great book. However, with the changing POV's from early 1900's to present day and quite a few characters, it felt like I never fully connected with any of the characters and it took away from the mystery. There is also a relationship in the book that felt disconnected with the story (reminded me of The Lions of Fifth Avenue). I did enjoy the history behind these dollhouses and the post-war era quite a bit.

My thanks to Net Galley, William Morrow and Harper Audio for advanced copies of this e-book and audiobook.

*I ended up reading the audio version of this novel and wrote this review:

The Library of Lost Dollhouses is a wonderful multi-timeline story that centers on a fictitious library/museum in San Francisco, housed in a Beaux Arts Building, the Belva Curtis Lefarge Library. Belva Lefarge founded the library and lived on the top floor after her home burned down. The nickname of the library is, "the Bel." A Prologue sets the stage for why the dollhouses are important as we find ourselves in the workshop of the artist, an unnamed woman, who designs and constructs them with minute attention to detail and a secret story or information that the owner wants known but not publicized. Each house we learn about in the story has exquisite miniatures and interior architectural features made exactly to scale.

Initially,, we meet Tildy Barrows in 2024. She is one of the two protagonists in the timelines. She's the curator at the "Bel," second in line to the Director. She knows they are in serious financial trouble due to the period the Bel was shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic and to an issue with an embezzler. The building has some very, very valuable things that might save it, including a masterpiece painting that Belva purchased from the Metropolitan Museum in New York many years ago. but an unexpected repair issue makes it doubtful it will yield enough to save the Bel.

While Tildy is working on the apartment floor with clothing that was in disarray from some impudent children, she discovers a door within the clothes/storage closet that leads to two large dollhouses, one the home Belva lived in while she was married and living in Paris in the early years of her marriage. This covers the period around 1910 when a young woman artist, Cora Hale, age 17, arrives in France, seeking a room at a women's residence, "Curtis House." The somewhat fractious manager explains that they are full up and that Cora should have had the room reserved before she arrived in Paris. That was not an option, as Cora considers herself a "ruined" woman in New York and she fled for Paris as an exile. Belva, a young married woman with a son is the founder of Curtis House and she is nearby when Cora is pleading her case. This leads to her reminding the manager/housemother of an upcoming vacancy and she offers Cora a room for the night. Over time, they get to know each other well and there is great mutual respect. It is one of a mentor/employer (Belva) who encourages Cora's work as an art instructor and also seeks to have Cora spend time on her own art creation. For some reason, she believes that painting is no longer an option for her, despite her training and talent.

At this point, everything else would involve spoilers, so I would say only that Cora discovers a new potential art form, creating dollhouses that are "portraits" of their owners, with significant choices about what is included and extra information hidden to tell the owners' stories. The novel takes us to other parts of Europe during WWI, with Tildy trying to learn the history of Belva's two dollhouses and Cora making her way through life on her eventual return to the United States. There is a fun part in England that involves a rehabilitation location for wounded servicemen and a Duchess who loves the dollhouse Cora made for Belva. Throughout, we wonder about and learn about the scandal that drove Cora from New York, about other clients/friends who commissioned their own unique dollhouses and their stories, about some mysteries in Tildy's life that help her understand her mother who had a very hard life and expressed some memorable things to Tildy about the Bel when she went there on a field trip at 10 and later when she was looking for work after earning her graduate degrees.

I read the novel on audio, narrated beautifully by Emily Rankin and Caroline Hewitt. I found the pace perfect and the stories all important to explain the lives and work of Tildy and Cora and the resolution of their initially unexplained sorrows. The stories in the dollhouses are either very, very personal information on the owner's intimate lives or would divulge very, very confidential information they have no right to publicize. I found them all interesting and the pace of the book just right. While the characters are all interesting, the plot and life stories are more up front than their inner voices. But they are definitely three-dimensional. I liked the writing very much. 4.5 rounded up.

THE LIBRARY OF LOST DOLLHOUSES by Elise Hooper shares the stories of Tildy, a young librarian living in present day San Francisco, and Cora, a talented artist who lived in the early twentieth century. Their connection is the Belva Curtis LeFarge Library where Tildy discovers two long hidden dollhouses. As the alternating stories enfold, readers learn about Cora's early life, travels in Europe, love affairs with both men and women, and her time during and after World War I when she began creating the miniatures. Although the story is sometimes a bit too slow-paced, Hooper certainly motivates her readers to reflect on the contributions of little recognized female artists (for a novel with a similar theme, see Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Vreeland). For me, the best part of Hooper's book was the description of the intricate, detailed work on the dollhouses and their contents. Both the Thorne Rooms (on display in Chicago) and Queen Mary’s Dolls' House (near London) are mentioned in the book and Hooper explains that "there's actually a psychological rationale to explain our affinity for small things: dollhouses offer us a sense of control and imagination. They can provide a feeling of agency. Miniatures allow us to create the world as we'd like to see it." THE LIBRARY OF LOST DOLLHOUSES is a bonus fiction pick for LibraryReads in April 2025. Booklist recommends it for fans of Kate Morton and Fiona Davis.

Links:
https://www.artic.edu/highlights/12/thorne-miniature-rooms
https://www.rct.uk/collection/stories/queen-marys-dolls-house

I thought this was a well written book. It’s told with dual timelines, each was really interesting. So many hidden stories inside each miniature. I was wishing I could see them all.

I do feel a bit let down by this just because it sounded so magical. It was interesting and well done, to be sure, but it wasn't the best for me. I was hoping for something like The Miniaturist and this felt like a very weak facsimile. Still, the dollhouse descriptions sound amazing and I think a lot of people will love this one.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses comes out next week on April 1, 2025 and you can purchase HERE.

The miniaturist stretches her arms overhead and exhales.

Late-afternoon sunshine spills across the plank floor of her workshop like maple syrup sliding from a spoon, making the air warm and languorous. The sweetened scent of the forest rises from freshly milled pine. When she lowers her arms, a nearby stack of mail in a basket catches her gaze. Letters from prospective clients. How do these women find her?
Word of her dollhouses and their secrets travels on whispers over the rims of teacups, the steps of front porches, and across kitchen tables and market counters. Until the dollhouse maker delved into the world of keeping other women's secrets, she had no idea there were so many possibilities: women write books and articles and publish them under men's names; they print and distribute subversive newspapers anonymously: they covertly offer illicit medical services to those in need; they bear children • they cannot claim as their own; they spend years developing inventions, only to have them claimed by men

Tlidy, a young librarian in a beautiful historic library in present-day San Francisco, enjoys her job as head curator. She works to meticulously preserve the century's worth of artifacts housed within the library. The order of the books, the calm and quietness, and the pieces of art are part of what she loves most.

Her world is soon turned upside down when she, for one, learns that the library is about to go into bankruptcy, and two, she discovers two beautifully crafted dollhouses in a hidden storage area on an upper floor of the library. These two dollhouses have special, yet tiny details, that Tildy soon discovers tell stories about the people for whom these dollhouses were built. After this discovery, she sets out to find out more about the history of the dollhouses and soon discovers that there are more than just the two.

In her quest to discover the history of the dollhouses, and to help save her beloved library, Tildy is led through pre-WWI Paris, to post-WWI and WW2 in the English countryside, to Walt Disney's studio in Burbank, California. Who was this dollhouse creator, what stories were they trying to tell/secrets were they trying to hide, and what did this have to do with her mother?

If you like historical fiction, libraries, books, dollhouses, mysteries, or all of the above, this book is for you!

5 out of 5 Stars!

When Tildy Barrows, the Head Curator of an archival library in San Francisco, stumbles upon a hidden room, she doesn’t know she is about to rewrite history. In this hidden room, there are 2 dollhouses. But not just any dollhouse; these are true pieces of art. With not much to go, Tildy makes it her mission to find out more information about these hours. Who made them? And why? This could have been at a better time, since Tildy recently found out the library is going bankrupt. Maybe these dollhouses mean something, and maybe they can save the library. Especially when she starts to find hidden messages throughout the dollhouses. Little does she know, there is a secret history of the dollhouses. Through her discovery, she learns about the gifted women that have been in the shadows.

WOW! Creating and making dollhouses was a hobby of mine going up, so seeing the advanced readers' copy of “The Library of Lost Dollhouses” by Elise Hooper, I was really intrigued! Bonus points for it being historical fiction, one of my favorite genres. Little did I know, this book had it ALL!

“The Library of Lost Dollhouses” had so many genres and personalities intertwined throughout. There were a lot of historical fiction aspects, with a romantic twist, along with a mystery to figure out. If you know me, these are my 3 top genres. Therefore, I loved every aspect. I thought all of these genres worked together to paint a story of determination and amazing individuals who have not had their story told yet. In regard to historical fiction, this book primarily focused on WW1 and WW2 history. But, there was a fun mention of Walt Disney and the creation of Disneyland! What a fun thing to add in!

This novel jumps back and forth, from the present to the past. We are hearing stories from Tildy, along with the creator of the dollhouses. I loved both perspectives and the different timelines, as it helped move the book along. Elise Hooper did a great job at combining these stories and having them feed off of each other. As I was learning about something in one story, it was connected to the other.

I absolutely loved Tildy, our main character and curator! Throughout the story, she really grew as a character. Not only did I love her growth on her own, but it really played into the story. Which I thought was unique. I really liked all the characters. I thought all of them played an important part in the story and all had personal growth throughout.

Overall, this was an incredibly fast-paced story with a twist I did not see coming! I really believe that everyone can find something in this story they will enjoy.

“The Library of Lost Dollhouses” by Elise Hooper will be released on April 1st, 2025!

Thank you to William Morrow, Elise Hooper, and Netgalley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

A marvelous story!
Hooper captures the whimsy and magic of dollhouses that have enraptured children for decades. A dollhouse becomes your own little world to create and change as you wish.
I loved the story and the mystery of who Cora Hale actually was plus her connection to Tildy.
I loved all the vivid descriptions of the dollhouses so it was easy to see them in my mind.
My favorite part of the book was during WWI and the work Cora did with the veterans, it was such a lovely component.
I used to want to,shrink down to dollhouse size so I could live in mine but had to be content with peering in.

“To create art is, at its very core, a hopeful act.”

As someone who loves libraries, supports libraries, and believes they are the heart of every community, I found the book to be an absolute treasure. Five huge stars for this book that brings art, love, loss, and hope all together.

Great historical fiction inspires the reader to learn more once the pages of the book are finished. This book tells the stories of Belva, Cora, and Tildy. But within the pages, are the stories of women that have been hidden for years.

Tildy is the head librarian at a beautiful, historic library in San Francisco. One day, she discovers a hidden room in the library. Inside, she finds two dollhouses. This sets Tildy on a life-changing journey that includes secrets and revelations that touch even her own personal life.

Cora Hale is an artist. She is trying to find her way in the art world, and her story - and life - changes as she begins a new life in Paris. She meets Belva LeFarge who commissions her to make a dollhouse of her home. This is where Cora utilizes the woodworking skills she learned from her late father, and she also learns to hide secrets. Over the course of her life she will create more dollhouses and hide more important secrets for many women.

This book is absolutely incredible! My review will not come close to doing it justice. Tildy and Cora share their amazing stories and this author weaves them seamlessly. You will not be able to put this one down, and you will be inspired by the descriptions of the dollhouses and their secrets.

I will be recommending this book to everyone, and it will definitely make my Top 10 of this year. Libraries are so important to our history, and this book really makes that message clear.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the privilege of getting to read this one early. This was my first book by Elise Hooper, and I’m looking forward to reading more of her books. This one releases on April 1st - add this to your TBR today. It is wonderful!

Thank you Netgalley & William Morrow Paperbacks for an eARC ❤️

Tildy, the protagonist, is a librarian who's just going through the motions until she stumbles upon two incredible dollhouses hidden away in a secret room. And let me tell you, those dollhouses are just the tip of the iceberg. As Tildy digs deeper, she uncovers a web of secrets and stories that span decades, continents, and even wars.
I loved how this book took me on a crazy journey through time, from the glamour of Belle Époque Paris to the magic of Walt Disney's Burbank studio.😍
.Tildy's journey is full of fascinating people, each with their own stories, struggles, and triumphs.
What really got me, though, was the way this book wove together themes of love, family, and self-discovery. Tildy's journey is not just about uncovering secrets, but also about finding her own place in the world. 😭♥️
If you're looking for a book that's got it all – mystery, history, heart, and a healthy dose of magic and of course miniatures 😍– then "The Library of Lost Dollhouses" is your next great read. 🤩

This was an enchanting historical fiction at it's best. I was really interested in these miniature doll houses (I always wanted a doll house as a child and my daughter didn't want one) The writing was so "illuminating" and interesting.. I will read more by this author.

Quick disclosure: I am a fan of Elise Hooper’s novels. (I just read “Fast Girls” for the second time and have read the remainder of her backlist, with the exception of “The Other Alcott” which I hope to read this year.). This newest publication intrigued me and I knew from Elise Hooper’s social media posts how much research, experiential learning (creating miniatures herself!) and passion she put into the story. Hooper’s childhood fascination and love of dollhouses come through each page. As a reader, you feel as though you are standing in front of one of the amazing dollhouse works of art.

However, I was expecting a more direct telling of actual persons during a specific historical period (such as Dorothea Lange in “Learning to See” and the female track and field stars of the 1928 - 1936 Olympics in “Fast Girls”) instead of characters that were “inspired by several real-life figures” as Hooper explains in her Author’s note. There are a few real-life personality cameos (such as Queen Mary and Walt Disney) but overall, Hooper follows a more creative path in the telling of the primary story of the library’s mystery. The novel seems to be Hopper’s love letter to miniaturists and librarians. I sense that this more veiled telling of the story by developing fictionalized characters was a refreshing change for her, so I’m accepting of the different approach.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses successfully interlocks the stories of the dollhouses - both of the creators and the owners - in an engaging way that takes us through a personal history of the last century - from World War I up to the pandemic. The real test of my favorable reaction to the story? I did a double take when walked past the Cleveland History Center and saw that they had an exhibit on miniatures. (Otherwise, I wouldn’t have given it a second thought.)

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read the ARC. I know that readers who enjoy historical fiction, mystery, and/or the fine arts of architecture and interior design will enjoy this journey of beautiful dollhouses.

This is a first by this author and it did not disappoint, I make it a point to read any book that is about books and or libraries/ historical fiction/nonfiction. I am fascinated by the past and books. Books always have a story to tell and if we are patient and wait for it to unwind you’re in for an amazing journey. That can be said for this book.
This book is an intricately, mysterious, adventure that keeps the reader engrossed from the first page. I couldn’t put this book down nor did I want too. Not only that but after I finished I was sadden and felt like a part of me was missing. I wanted to go back and reread this book immediately. Why would you do if you found a hidden room at your job and not only that the room was filled with secrets. Not only secrets but you find something that intertwines with who you are? Would you continue to search for answers or would you leave the past in the past. I would have done exactly as Tildy our main character does. After all aren’t we all driven by the unknown and mysteries in life???

In this dual POV past and present is told through the views of Tildy in 2024 runs a library that, according to very specific set in author's notes. One morning Tildy stumbles upon a hidden room within the Bel library - short for the Belva Curtis LaFarge library. This is where our adventure begins when she finds two gorgeous dollhouses completely outfitted to look like a 1/12th size replica. Where did it come from and what is the story? As the novel unfolds, we learn that the dollhouses represent owners with stories to tell but the timing wasn’t right when they were created.

Then we bounce to 1910: 17-year-old Cora Hale arrives in France after a scandal in NYC. Her parents have both passed and Cora is alone. Cora needs a place to stay where she can pursue her love of art. Madame Belva LaFarge takes an interest in young Cora and makes it a point to find Cora a place to reside.

This is a book that will keep you up at night flipping the pages, your curiosity will not be satisfied till you reach the last page of this book. This book is a wonderful depiction of finding oneself and going to great lengths to become what one wants to be. I highly recommend this book. It will definitely be in my top five of 2025.

"When a young librarian discovers historic dollhouses in a hidden room, she embarks on an unexpected journey that reveals surprising secrets about the lost miniatures.

Tildy Barrows, Head Curator of a beautiful archival library in San Francisco, is meticulously dedicated to the century's worth of inventory housed in her beloved Beaux Art building. She loves the calm and order in the shelves of books and walls of art. But Tildy's life takes an unexpected turn when she, first, learns the library is on the verge of bankruptcy and, second, discovers two exquisite never-before-seen dollhouses.

After finding clues hidden within these remarkable miniatures, Tildy sets out to decipher the secret history of the dollhouses, aiming to salvage her cherished library in the process. Her journey introduces her to a world of ambitious and gifted women in Belle Époque Paris, a group of scarred World War I veterans in the English countryside, and Walt Disney's bustling Burbank studio in the 1950s. As Tildy unravels the mystery, she finds not only inspiring, hidden history, but also a future for herself - and an astonishing familial revelation.

Spanning the course of a century, The Library of Lost Dollhouses is a warm, bright, and captivating story of secrets and love that embraces the importance of illuminating overlooked women."

Elise Hooper had me mysteriously discovered dollhouses!

You say Library and Dollhouses, sign me up. This was such a wonderful fictional generation story that included the past and present. The story was told so incredibly well. The jumps from past and present mixed very well telling the complete story and was in my opinion flawless. Thank You Netgalley for the ARC. This is truly at the top of my favorites of the year. It is quite surprising to me as I don't really care for Historical Fiction but in this, I loved it.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses
by Elise Hooper
Pub Date: April 1, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Spanning the course of a century, The Library of Lost Dollhouses is a warm, bright, and captivating story of secrets and love that embraces the importance of illuminating overlooked women.
When a young librarian discovers historic dollhouses in a hidden room, she embarks on an unexpected journey that reveals surprising secrets about the lost miniatures.
Loved this story!
Tildy is in 2024 but the dollhouses were made during WWI and after, by someone with the initials CH. The storyline covers the early years of the twentieth century when the artist moves to Paris. She meets influential and wealthy women that commission the dollhouses. Their stories plus the details of how and where the dollhouses were built will fascinate you.

Secrets are hidden within these dollhouses as they ‘tell the stories’ of their owners lives. Truly an innovative and provocative plot line.

The title is so intriguing and grabbed my attention right away! But it is also a little deceptive, as although the book is about dollhouses it is about a library where dollhouses are discovered in a secret room rather my first guess of a whole library dedicated to dollhouses.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses is very character-centric, flipping between present day and pre-WWI where the worlds of Tildy Barrows, the present day finder of the dollhouses and the dollhouse maker collide. It’s a delightful tale of how Cora Hale arrives in Paris in 1910 and comes to create masterpieces in miniature in tandem with how in the present day, Tildy learns of the secrets of her family tree.

The story is deeply rooted in the characters, their relationships, and how those relationships frame the creation and ultimate discovery of the dollhouses. The unfolding mystery keeps pages turning while the little details of miniature crafting and WWI history add layers of interesting detail. The dollhouses, while not the main event as the title might suggest, bind the two narratives together for a satisfying reveal.

An engaging read for any historical fiction lover.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the advance reading copy.

After losses and uncertainty in her own life, Tildy Barrows treasures the order and routine of her life as curator of an archival library in San Francisco. Tildy learns two things that upset her quiet groove: her beloved library is on the brink of bankruptcy, and she discovers two long-hidden dollhouses that hold secrets from her own family history. As she delves into the mysteries in the miniature worlds, Tildy uncovers a century's worth of stories, which eventually inspire her to reclaim her own. This dual-timeline novel celebrates those who preserve otherwise invisible moments from history.

Historical fiction is my favorite and tiny things...what's not to love. This is a historical fiction novel that follows Tilly the librarian as she discovers historic doll houses in a hidden room. She embarks ona journey to discover the origin of the dollhouses. A light enjoyable historical fiction novel, that is an easy read without to much emotional heartbreak. I enjoyed it a lot. Thank you to the publisher and net galley for an advanced copy.

I received a free copy of, The Library of Lost Dollhouses, by Elise Hooper, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Tildy Barrows works in a library in California. Library's are great places, dollhouses are amazing things to play with, use your imagination with. This story had a lot of twists and turn, it was a very enjoyable read.