I loved the concept of this book. I thought the plot was very interesting and the actual going ons. My issue is I don't think we dove deep enough into it. I wanted more of the acting school, the work instead of just a paragraph summing those parts up. I also feel we should done more once we found out what was going on.

"You can be replaced at any moment in ways you can't imagine."

"A granted wish doesn't always look like you expect it will."

We hear it all the time. The price of fortune and fame. What some are willing to pay for it. But what if you decided you no longer wanted it all but there was no return policy for you...unless there was a new you?

The wild yet extremely introspective dark academia psychological thriller The Dollhouse Academy, by innovatively gifted author Margarita Montimore, is an ominous tale about fame, power and fortune.

Ramona and Grace idolize Ivy Gordon. She's an award winning actress and singer. When they are accepted at the exclusive Dollhouse Academy, where Ivy learned to be a star, they are so thrilled that they don't see the red flags. First, if they leave before 6 months they have to pay $10,000; then there's "minimal contact with the outside world." It's a bit ominous when Ramona says, "You make it sound like I'm about to join a cult." If only that was it!

Voice actresses Brittany Pressley
And Xe Sands are their usual brilliant selves with in depth emotional performances. The toll of going after your dreams versus the greed of the ones who try to control it are the main subjects of this dark academia thriller with the twistiest end.

As Grace excels, Ramona is left behind but she realizes the weird medical exams, suspicious supplements, and severe diets are changing Grace into someone else. When she meets Ivy and hears her story, reads her secret diary, she knows they may never graduate from the academy.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

Friends since fifth grade, Grace and Ramona finally get to live out their dream of getting a chance at the Dollhouse Academy but as it turns out sometimes your dreams do not turn out the way that they expected.

The narrators were great and really gave the dual point of view that had me questioning the end all the way through. Would recommend. Thank you to Netgalley, Margarita Montimore, and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

Stepford Wives meets Fame meets Eileen Ford

I enjoyed this one even though or maybe because of the fact you weren’t sure if it was going to go supernatural or be more mysterious adventure. You also weren’t sure who to believe so the suspense was definitely there!

This is kind of a hard book to review because I don’t want to give any elements away.

The narration by Xe Sands and Brittany Pressley was top notch! Both brought such great emotion and Brittany did great when voicing Ivy during her storyline, she really had Xe’s voice down pat!

This was my first book by this author but I may have to go back to her backlist and read some more as I enjoyed her writing style.

4 stars

I received this audiobook from the publisher Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

I loved this audiobook. Great narrator and pace. I absolutely LOVED Margarita Montimore's first two novels, this one fell a little short. I did like how the ending made me guess if it really was, or wasn't.

I absolutely LOVED this book. Very Stepford Wives meets Old School Hollywood. The 2 narrators did such an excellent job with the different character voices. I found the mystery compelling and continuously wondered how the MCs were going to make it out.

There was a bit of a stumble for me near the end which is the only reason it's not 5 stars (4.75 on Storygraph). Brief spoilers ahead!
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The time skip felt too abrupt. For them to just be let go like that was a little disappointing. For how sinister the Academy was I had hoped for a more clandestine escape.

I was granted the audio arc for this and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity. I have not stopped recommending this to friends that love thrillers.

"For me, it was more important to be somebody than to be with somebody."

Ivy Gordon is the most famous cast member at The Dollhouse Academy. She starts to journal her life and record the secrets of mega secretive, ultra-elitist talent school. Ramona and Grace have been best friends since elementary school. They get the unbelievable opportunity to attend The Dollhouse Academy in hopes of fulfilling their dreams of being actresses, but once the doors close, more shocking things start to happen.

Oona Out of Order is one of my favorite books ever, so I was so excited to get approved for this ARC of Montimore's latest work! This book was such a unique exploration into the lives of the ultra famous and the psychological toll it takes to get to the top. The Dollhouse Academy and the power was so intriguing. I loved the secretive notes, the building pressure to look within the Academy curtains to discover what's really going on. With the elements of the plot, I actually thought the Grace/Ramona plot lines were going to take an ever darker turn. The ending wrapped up expertly. There were definitely times where you have to suspend some belief, but Montimore perfected the world of elitism. The audiobook was very well narrated and engaging!

This one is out now! Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the advanced listening copy!

Thank you so much Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the audiobook!!

The narration of this story was great and really brought everything to life nicely. I love that the premise was very different than anything I've read before. Ramona and Grace both get accepted into the Dollhouse Academy. Ramona starts to struggle with deep jealousy of her friend. Ivy Gordon, the most famous person that's come out of Dollhouse Academy is busy journaling her secrets of show business over her 30+ years. There was definitely mystery mixed up with the real life issues that I'm sure people in the entertainment industry deal with daily. I think the book was good and I'm interested in reading more by Ms. Montimore.

Ramona and Grace are aspiring actresses who audition for a spot in the Dollhouse Academy. Fortunately, for both, each is offered a spot.

The dollhouse Academy is very synonymous with old Hollywood and how a single production company would control an actor or actresses entire career. All the twists and turns in this story, definitely play on the “ be careful what you wish for” sentiment.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading others by this author.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio via net galley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

Another enjoyable Margarita Montimore story! I got sucked into the story early and really wanted to understand where it would go. Ramona’s journey took turns I could see coming a bit before but still was fun to read. Ivy’s perspective was written as diary entries so it’s understandable that they read as if we were being told not shown (the difference between how the stories of Ramona and Ivy were told were glaring but it fit the story). I vaguely expected the ending but still wanted a bit more. Thanks to NetGalley for an early ALC to review.

Margarita Montimore always hits the right notes for me! This was my third book by her, and I enjoyed it nearly as much as Oona Out of Order and Acts of Violet. The Dollhouse Academy is set in the late 1990s, Ramona and Grace are best friends living in New York and pursuing acting. They get their big break when they are invited to join the Dollhouse Academy, an acting academy for a production company that is its own entertainment microcosm.

The renowned studio releases a variety of successful and well-crafted movies, television series, and musical albums. I hadn’t really been aware of this, but it is based on the old studio system, where its actor’s careers are completely controlled by the studio. Though prestigious, the production company is shrouded in mystery. I found the focus on friendship, ambition, and the price of fame very intriguing. I listened to the audiobook, which is fabulously narrated by Brittany Pressley as the main narrator and Xe Sands who narrates short letters interspersed in the text.

Thank you Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing this ebook and audiobook ARC. All thoughts are my own.

This is such a twisted novel wrapped in cute owl clothing. On the surface it seems low stakes, but when you peel back the layers...just wow.

The setup is excellent and the execution is flawless. The characters are complex and their relationships even more so.

More than anything with all the conspiracy theories about celebrities...this one makes you pause and think...what if...and yeesh you sure hope such a thing isn't possible.

What happens when all your dreams come true only to find yourself living a nightmare you aren't sure you will be able to escape?

It is a classic tale of being careful what you wish for and equally a reflection on what in life will actually bring you joy.

A big thank you to Net Galley for this audio ARC and to Margarita for the physical ARC!

RATINGS
10 Characters
9 Atmosphere
10 Writing Style
8 Plot
7 Pace
10 Intrigue
9 Enjoyment
3 SOS Bonus
TOTAL= 63+3= 66/14= 4.71

3.00/5.00 SOS Rating
--I was not expecting this to go the way it did, but DAMN if it isn't creepy and unsettling!

4.75/5.00 Rounded Rating

Dear The Dollhouse Academy,
You were such a twisted, surprising story about the price of fame. I really enjoyed getting into Ivy and Ramona's head as they traversed the drought waters of The Dollhouse. I loved how Ivy's diary wove into Ramona's life as she got everything she ever wanted and discovered the price of having her dreams come true. You took me on a wild ride, and I loved every minute.

The Dollhouse Academy is an intriguing thriller set at an elite academy for performers. Ramona and Grace, best friends science fifth grade, have always wanted to be stars, bonding over their shared love of the tv show In the Dollhouse. At 22, they get their big break by catching the eye of Genevieve, the head of Dahlen Academy, and are offered spots in the school. While Grace rises to the challenge and quickly lands a spot on In the Dollhouse, Ramona begins to flounder, constantly second guessing herself. She has also been receiving mysterious notes, referencing dark secrets at the school that could be putting her and Ramona in danger.

This was a really fun thriller. I loved the setting of Dalhen Academy and it really added to the overall paranoid feeling in the book. The story is told through Ramona's perspective in the late 90s and in diary entries from the late 80s written by Ivy, one of the Dollhouse's stars. The alternating perspectives helped to add to the overall sense of unease. I also think Montimore did a really good job of gradually raising the stakes in a way that made the reader understand why Ramona was acting the way that she was. I listened to the audiobook and both of the narrators did a great job with the story. This will be a great one for fans of the tv shows Black Mirror and Dollhouse and readers who enjoy stories having to do with the entertainment industry.

I loved Oona out of order and was really excited for a new book from Margarita Montimore! This story is about a scripted television show and the 'academy' where they train and groom wannabe actors and singers who want to get chosen for the shows.

Told in a dual timeline style with flashbacks to the show's biggest star's experiences on the show in the early years to the present, the newest crop of stars slowly learn the high cost of fame and that there are dark things happening at the academy that aren't worth being there for. The end got a little sci-fi for me but on the whole I enjoyed this one.

It had great narration by my favorite, Brittany Pressley and Xe Sands. Overall, while this won't be a new favorite by Montimore for me it was still a very interesting take on fame and the Hollywood entertainment industry. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Acts of Violet, another title from Montimore, is one of my favorite books. To say that I’m a fan of this author would be an understatement. The Dollhouse Academy is a good story but lacks the magic I’ve come to expect from Montimore’s previous works. I would recommend this title to fans of Black Mirror, as it explores similar themes to the television series.

Dark academia + celebs made this one a must read. I loved the eerie setting of the academy and it’s overhearing leader, Genevieve. The journal entries from the Dollhouses' golden goose were well done and helped to foreshadow what was coming. Ultimately, I wanted a little bit more from this one but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Brittany Pressley does the narration of the audiobook and does an excellent job as always.

Listened to this one on audio (would definitely recommend that format if you pick this one up, the narrators are great!). I was invested for a while, probably the first third or so, but could feel my interest start to wane from there. I enjoyed the gossipy private school and Hollywood vibes from the start, and the central conflicts and themes around the cost of fame were intriguing -- but ultimately things started to drag out and become far less suspenseful, culminating in a "reveal" and conclusion that felt pretty...wtf. Overall, liked pieces of it but can't wholeheartedly recommend.

Rounded up from 3.5 stars on The Storygraph

Stardom was always designed to cost you. It takes discipline, sacrifice, resilience, and unwavering determination to chase the spotlight you’ve spent your life dreaming of. But, at The Dollhouse Academy your dreams will, at their cheapest, cost you everything.

This was an entertaining and unsettling story with sci-fi elements that follows one storyline told through two generations, two POVs (one being in a written journal format), and various dynamics. Many of the characters that we meet lose their tether to reality as they uncover the dark secrets behind this production studio’s success. Meanwhile, others lose their identities entirely - some willingly offering theirs up for a chance at fame, while some not so much.

While there were a handful of moments that I found to be attention grabbing (black sea jello anyone?), not much about the plot or the characters stood out to me. As a frequenter of the thriller and horror genres, I didn’t find much about this book to be unique. That being said, I did really enjoy the setting and the tv/movie star aspect. I also particularly enjoyed the direction that Margarita Montimore took with the ending. Due to the book’s genre and the fact that it is an ending, I can’t elaborate too much. However, I will say that I love a story that doesn’t end with all the loose ends tied in bows.

Not only was this an entertaining thriller, it also drifted into being observational piece on Hollywood and the archetypes that we see standing under the brightest spotlights in the media. It’s not a thread that is preached to the reader or glaringly obvious in an obnoxious and clunky way. It’s more of a nudge in the direction of this train of thought.

I always say it when I’m reviewing an audiobook, but I am a picky listener when it comes to the narration. The narrators for this book did not disappoint on any level. Brittany Pressley and Xe Sands are talented storytellers with great cadence, smooth vocals, and an engaging catalogue of character voices. They both did an excellent job at bringing this book and its characters to life.

I truly do not have a negative word to say about The Dollhouse Academy. My mid-range rating comes only from the fact that, although I enjoyed my listen, these characters and this story in itself aren’t going to stick with me long term. I love a really dark and twisty thriller and, for me, this just wasn’t that. I would say it’s more of something my friend and I refer to as a “potato chip” book. It’s a fairly quick and enjoyable read/listen to mix things up - comparable to settling into a cozy couch with a bag of Lays for an evening - but it doesn’t leave a lingering taste.

Ps. I am officially fan-casting Meryl Streep as Genevieve. I hope we can all understand the vision.

A huge thank-you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ramona Halloway can’t believe her luck. She and her best friend, Grace, have landed spots at The Dollhouse Academy—Dahlen Entertainment’s elite talent incubator, the very place that shaped their idol, Ivy Gordon. Growing up glued to Dahlen’s flagship TV drama, In the Dollhouse, they dreamed of this moment. Now, they have the chance to train alongside industry legends and maybe even cross paths with Ivy herself.

But the dream isn’t quite what Ramona expected. Struggling to stand out, she watches Grace’s star rise while she flounders, envy gnawing at the edges of their friendship. She always said she’d do anything to make it—she just didn’t think it would cost her Grace's friendship.

Ivy, meanwhile, has spent eighteen years as Dahlen’s biggest star, and she knows better than anyone what the Academy demands from its performers. Through secret journal entries, she starts documenting the truth: the invasive medical exams, the mysterious supplements, the terrifying hold Dahlen has over her life. If she can’t break free of this gilded cage, what hope does she have of helping new talent like Ramona?

The Dollhouse Academy is a hard book to pin down—part dark academia, part psychological thriller, with a simmering sense of unease that only fully boils over in the final act. There’s even a touch of sci-fi, adding to its genre-blurring appeal. The slow-burn buildup kept me intrigued, but the resolution felt rushed, leaving the characters frustratingly close to where they started. A romantic subplot for Ramona also fell flat, adding little to the novel’s core themes.

There’s a lot to admire here—an eerie premise, compelling character dynamics, and sharp commentary on the cost of fame—but the ending left me wanting more. I just wish all that buildup had paid off in a more satisfying way.