Title: The Dollhouse Academy
Author: Margarita Montimore
Format: 🎧
Narrators; Brittany Pressley and Xi Sands
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Macmillan Audio and Flatiron Books
Pub Date: February 11, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars!
Pages 320

Story is features three main characters Ivy Gordon and, Ramona Halloway, and Grace Ludlow
Story is told from the POV of Ramona and Ivy mainly via her diary.

For the past eighteen years, Ivy Gordon has been the most famous star at the Dollhouse Academy, an elite boarding school for aspiring performers.

Ramona Holloway and her best friend, Grace Ludlow, grew up idolizing Ivy. They are both twenty-two, but neither has made a mark in showbiz, until a lucky break and they are granted the opportunity of attending the Dollhouse which they dreamed of attending.

Ramona begins to receive anonymous, threatening messages; and assumes a prank from a rival. In the meantime Grace’s skyrocketing success is skyrocketing but the opposite seems to be happening for Ramona,

This story deals with the dilemma of doing anything to make your dreams come true. In this case, behind the scenes look at some nasty things that happens in the entertainment industry.
Ivy, a former student of the academy, is still dealing with the memories of her experience time via diary entries.
Newbies, Ramona and Grace, excited to be part of this world soon find themselves consumed in the toxic environment of rivalry and suspicion.

Although I am not a fan of profanity and yes these characters did challenge my tolerance - I was glued to this story.
Plus narrators Brittany Pressley and Xi Sands are two of my very favorite audiobook performers!

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for granting me this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 11, 2025.

This was creepy and weird and dishy and really really enjoyable! I found the story and characters compelling and never knew exactly what was going on or how it would all play out. It's an odd story, and requires a significant ability to suspend disbelief, but not in a bad way. It's a story best served up cold I think - go into this one just waiting to see what happens, and you won't be disappointed! The narration was excellent and really suited the tone of the story, which definitely added an off-kilter aspect to the listen. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Margarita Montimore...

I loved this. I think the narrator mixed with the prose created a great story filled with tension that kept me engaged. I think the story was interesting and the characters interacting with one another was fun and kept me engaged.

I could not stop listening to this book! It feels a little ironic to say but this would make an epic movie or mini series. Sort of Real Life meets Degrassi meets Inception. Shew. And the ending was PERFECT. Nothing more and nothing less would have been sufficient. I definitely recommend this audiobook!

#netgalley #MacMillanAudio

I always thought Oona Out of Order would be my favorite Margarita Montimore book, that was until I read The Dollhouse Academy! If you loved The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin then this book is for you! Absolutely loved it! Thanks NetGallery!

Instantly absorbing, this books interrogates how far would people go to fulfill their dreams. Two young women are plucked from relative obscurity to attend the famed and secretive superstar generator "Dollhouse Academy." The academy's creepy secrets are revealed slowly through murky experiences and interspersed diary entries from an older star

This book was a set of contradictions: a fun premise that just didn't end up being fun, retro "Stepford Wives" vibes that somehow never embraced its 1990s culture, and a cast of characters that were overly earnest when perhaps they should have been campy. It made for a boring read that never seemed to go anywhere. Note: I listened to the audio version and the narrator did an excellent job.

Story: Ivy Gordon is in her 40s and still playing the same character on the long running hit TV series The Dollhouse. She feels trapped in many ways, some sinister. Meanwhile, neophytes Ramona and her best friend Grace are excited to have been chosen to attend the Dollhouse Academy - a special gated community in New York where the tv show is filmed and the actors live and train. For Ramona especially, this is her big break and she'll do whatever it takes to get a part on the show. But all is not what it seems at the commune and the girls could be in very real danger.

So yes, the premise is similar to Stepford Wives which, in its time, felt right - coming in the era of Disney creating lifelike robots and emerging technology in androids. Similarly, the more modern movie Don't Worry Darling also plays with the same theme somewhat successfully and also with a retro feel. While the previous two were existential in nature, this book is much more concerned with what people are willing to do in order to achieve stardom. It never needed the sci fi twist.

The story follows two POVs - older Ivy writing in her diary about her decades of experiences in the Dollhouse and Ramona's view of being accepted into the academy. As Ramona deals with envy over her best friend's rising success she also begins to realize something is not quite right with the academy and its enigmatic owner.

One issue I had with the book is that there really isn't any suspense or attempt at horror - it's just a tepid, 'oh well, that is kind of strange and maybe kind of wrong, but hey, who cares as long as I get to be a star!?" The denouement especially was anticlimactic and rather bland. As well, none of the characters were very interesting: Ivy is more of a sad sack while Ramona is honestly rather stupid and selfish - she spends most of the book pursuing her pleasures and felt very one dimensional. I never really wanted to root for any of the characters.

Yes, this is a very implausible story. It didn't bother me with the Stepford Wives due to the creepiness factor and the big reveals at the end. In contrast, this book just plodded along and then ended peacefully and rather boringly. Nothing was really resolved. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

The Dollhouse Academy is a gem that perfectly scratches all my dark academia itches. This novel is a captivating blend of entertainment and a mesmerizing atmosphere. Set in an ultra-secluded boarding school for actors, it follows the journey of two best friends as they navigate the complexities of ambition and sacrifice. The beautifully crafted storytelling draws you into a world where dreams come at a cost. The characters are complex and relatable, making their struggles and triumphs all the more impactful. I found myself utterly engrossed from start to finish. I cannot recommend The Dollhouse Academy enough if you’re a fan of dark, intriguing narratives with rich character development. A definite five-star read!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the chance to listen to this audio-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The narrators, Brittany Pressley and Xe Sands were amazing!

2.5 stars rounded up

This had a great setup but I feel like it kept pulling its punches. By the end it felt too similar to other things, which is a bummer because I like this kind of book. The Dollhouse Academy is a modern gothic set in the world of the entertainment industry where a talent incubator locks performers into contracts and requires creepy things from them.

We follow a young woman who has always longed to be a Dollhouse star. So when she and her best friend are plucked from relative obscurity and offered training and contracts, it seems her dreams have come true. But she begins receiving notes of warning, there are invasive medical tests, and her best friend is quickly separated from her. Interspersed with this are diary entries from one of the biggest stars Dollhouse has ever had, detailing her disturbing experiences and strong-arming her into signing new contracts.

The Dollhouse is rife with manipulation tactics and gaslighting, but towards the end it got a little absurd when it should have been getting more scary. Again, part of this is because it pulls its punches which makes things feel less believable. I think this had a lot of potential, because there have been real cases of cultish talent incubators in Hollywood in recent years, and this touches on the pressure to change physical appearance in order to succeed as well. Ultimately though, the ending fell a bit flat for me. Not a bad book but a little lackluster. The audio narration is well done with a strong cast. I received an audio review copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

I am thankful to have gotten an eARC for free from through NetGalley to enjoy which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Thank you Flatiron and MacMillan audio for review copies of one of my most anticipated reads! I am a big fan of Margarita Montimore and The Dollhouse Academy is a new favorite from her. This book, and fantastically narrated audiobook, has all the themes I love: friendship and friendship challenges, boarding school themes, behind the scenes Hollywood (though not Hollywood here per se), and a sense of mystery and well developed unease. I really loved the way the plot was developed, weaving in Ivy's story/diary with Ramona's own story and experience at the Dollhouse Academy. The excellent and consistent pacing, the themes on industry exploitation and the costs of celebrity and fame, and the exploration of Ramona's and Grace's friendship, and feelings of envy blended with true affection, really made this an engrossing read. The elements explored in the mystery part of the story, themes on identity and memory, make for excellent discussion potential as well.

A great read, recommended on audio as the voice acting from personal favorite Brittany Pressley and also from Xe Sands really made this story resonate!

The Dollhouse Academy, by Margarita Montimore, is an unsettling novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm sure it helped that I listened to the audiobook version narrated by one of my very favorite voices, Brittany Pressley, and Xe Sands (also great, though her voice has a raspy tone that always takes me a few chapters to get used to.) I won't rehash the plot, but I will say that I really connected with the storyline involving Ramona and Grace, best friends since childhood. At the Dollhouse, their paths diverge and their friendship turns rocky. From Ramona's POV (narrated by Pressley), we hear her struggle with missing her bestie as well as her own jealousy and resentment at Grace's success. Highly recommend!!

I LOVED this audio book! It was creepy, fabulous and oh the characters..so good!! I don't want to give anything away but definitely needs to be on your list to read or listen to!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Oona Out of Order is one of my favorite books ever, so I was so excited to get approved for an ARC of Montimore's latest work.

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.

This book was such a unique exploration into the lives of the ultra famous and the psychological toll it takes as well as the celebrity obsession. This was an incredibly compelling premise, but it didn't live up to my (very high) expectations. The first half of this novel was very intriguing, but it fell flat in the second half. With the elements of the plot, I thought the Grace or Ivy plot lines were going to take an ever darker turn. I found the ending very weak. We're all agreeing The Dollhouse Academy and had so much power to get people to stay, but they folded so easily at the end? It just didn't feel like the story connected with how it was built up.

The audiobook was very well narrated and engaging!

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

I was thrilled to get an advance copy of The Dollhouse Academy because I loved Oona Out of Order and Acts of Violet. The Dollhouse Academy had a more sinister vibe than the other books I've read from Montimore with Ramona, Ivy, and Grace working at an entertainment company that pushes them in how far they will go for fame.

Montimore blends genres in a way that worked really well for me. The writing was immersive, and I couldn't stop listening to hear what would happen next. I really enjoyed the audio narration.

Though I don't think I liked The Dollhouse Academy as much as Oona Out of Order or Acts of Violet, it was an excellent book and I will continue to read anything Montimore publishes.

The Dollhouse academy was a decent ⭐️⭐️⭐️ read! The beginning started off very strong, however the middle got a little slow.

That aside, the premise was a good one. The dark side of entertainment, the stripping of autonomy, the “understudies”. While a bit of it was a little far fetched for me, the idea still stood out to me and I enjoyed the read! I would recommend to anyone into the arts, and actors/actresses.

Also, I loved the narrators!

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

#booksonaburger #booksbooksbooks #audiobook #macmillanaudio #thedollhouseacademy #ARC #bookstagram

This book is essentially a mystery story flirting with dark academia and sci-fi elements. Oh, and with a little Evenlyn Hugo touch (there is a former famous actress sharing her story - and secrets - through entries on her own diary).
Two long-time friends get the big break of their lives to have a chance to attend the Dollhouse Academy, a place where young girls go to improve their singing and acting, and practice other skills in order to become big movie/TV stars.
But we all know fame and popularity has its price, and Dollhouse Academy is no exception. Soon, one of the friends realises there is something weird about that place and the strict rules they are supposed to follow. Some girls seem to be replaced by others very easily and in a terrifying way, but it might be too late for one of them.

This story is told by two POVs: one of the girl friends and by entries of a diary written by a former successful movie and tv star 'graduated' at the Dollhouse Academy when she was very, very young. She is a little older now and fed up with everyone and everything connected to the Academy, so she is spilling the tea and sharing all the dark secrets from that place - to whoever finds her diary.
Both young girl friends have their friendship put to test during their training in the Academy and one of them is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her biggest dream.

I liked this book a lot, but I'm not gonna lie: a huge part of it reads as YA. The friends are 22 years old (both of them) and particularly one of them speaks and behaves like a 15-year old selfish, narcissist, spoilt brat. It annoyed me a little, and it might annoy other readers who are not into YA, so be aware of that if you're intrested in this book.
In my opinion, the mystery of what's really going on with that place and with those girls is well done. The pacing is good, the writing is engaging, thewhole plot is quite realistic, really. The social discussions are still relevant to this day. The story is mostly set in the late 90's - but it could be set today.
This book can be very thrilling, tense and a real page-turner if you're invested in the storyline. I was.
This was my first time reading a book by this author, so I cannot compare this book to their previous ones.

I listened to the audiobook and it was very, very good. Both narrators were great at voicing the different characters and delivering the right pitch in the most tense moments. Highly recommend it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for allowing me to listen to an advanced audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.

I thought this book had a little bit of everything: Mystery, thriller, sci-fi, romance, and more!! It was an addicting read.

I chose this book because I had enjoyed Oona Out of Order and was excited to read another book by Margarita. This book did not disappoint. I was hooked from the very beginning.

Brittany Pressley and Xe Sands are two of the best audiobook narrators in my opinion and they did a fantastic job bringing this story to life. This book was creepy yet mesmerizing and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more by Margarita in the future as well.

Thank you again to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for the ALC.

This book was great. It seemed so realistic that often times I forgot I was reading a fiction book. I have read so many memoirs and this book reads like it could be a memoir or real diary from an actress. I would definitely recommend this book to people interested in that kind of book.

Childhood best friends, Ramona Halloway and Grace Ludlow, are plucked from the underground NYC theatre scene to enter the esteemed Dollhouse Academy. The academy is a modern throwback to the old Hollywood studio model where aspiring actors are put through grueling training regimens to maybe one day become superstars beholden exclusively to The Dollhouse, if they are able to adequately impress the right people. While the Dollhouse is home many a star, Ivy Gordon is their brightest and the particular idol of Ramona. Told from the perspectives of both Ivy and Ramona, we are treated to a slow unfolding of what's really going on underneath the veneer of perfection.

Read this if you're into:
- A speculative fiction take on the old Hollywood studio
- Childhood best friendships being tested
- Diary-style story telling

The Dollhouse Academy had me constantly wondering what was really going on and I could not stop listening. The narrators, Brittany Pressley and Xe Sands, do an incredible job of bringing Ramona and Ivy to life. Ramona's character development throughout the novel was very well done - seeing her grow beyond the jealousy she experienced with Grace zooming to fame. I felt her gut wrenching feeling where she was excited for Grace, but also devastated that she was not measuring up. Seeing her work through that as the book progressed was lovely and so much of the book emphasizes how important those friendships are in the long run.

Where I did find myself having trouble was depth of character for folks who where not Ramona and Ivy. Maybe in part because Grace wasn't a perspective character, I didn't fully grasp her backstory beyond her being an orphan who was in and out of foster care - I didn't get a good picture of her outside of being Ramona's best friend. The same for Mason, some of the conversations he had with Ramona were highly suspicious in terms of how involved in the Dollhouse he truly was, but I didn't feel like his motivations were fully explored enough.

That being said, I still highly recommend The Dollhouse Academy and the audiobook is also an excellent option should you prefer to read with your ears. Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy.