I’ve always been drawn to stories centered around librarians, and this one stands out with its multigenerational narrative that seamlessly intertwines past and present. It offers a unique blend of historical fiction and the curious world of dollhouses.

The concept of dollhouses concealing long-buried secrets and hidden mysteries is utterly captivating—there’s something so compelling about the idea of entire histories tucked away behind miniature walls.

I appreciated the thoughtful mix of romance and mystery, and the author’s meticulous attention to detail brought each scene vividly to life.

With a World War II backdrop, a storyline involving a woman working undercover, and touches of art history woven throughout, this novel offers both entertainment and insight—leaving plenty to think about long after the final page.

3.5 stars rounded to 4 for Goodreads

The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper

Often the stories of how women have impacted history get lost. Sometimes this is due to their contributions being secret or attributed to the men around them. This book is a reflection of just that and based on real women in history.

Tildy works at the Belva Curtis LeFarge Library, the Bel, as the head curator. One day after a school bus of children breaks down and their curiosity leads them to roam the library Tildy finds a hidden room is dollhouses. Both are unique and expertly crafted. One even contains a portrait of her late mother. Tildy then goes on an adventure to find out more about her mother and the meaning behind the mysterious dollhouses.

This is a dual POV as it is told from the point of view of Tildy as she discovers the secrets of the past and of Cora Hale who is interconnected to each of the dollhouses. This books is a beautiful reflection of the contributions that women have achieved throughout history and the little ways that they have made their lasting mark. This story is told from the retrospective of Cora Hale as present day Tildy dives into the history.

I would recommend this one to fans of historical fiction and those who are lightly dabbling in the genre as well. There are nods to real people and there is a sense of adventure and storytelling as everything unfolds.

I enjoyed the audio in this one. The narrator was pleasant to listen to and easy to follow along with the story. The experience was enjoyable and with dual POV it can be hard to get lost but the narrator did a great job differentiating between the two.

Told in vivid detail and with tremendous heart, The Library of Lost Dollhouses is a shape shifting story with a cast of dazzling characters.

📚𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?

I love the idea of highly extravagant dollhouses hiding things and enjoyed the details of how the artist made all the intricate pieces of her houses. Plus, the added mystery behind the origin of the dollhouses had kept me wanting to know more.

I also appreciated how both FMCs are fully-fleshed, in so far as I was able to feel what they were feeling. There were a few poignant moments that really had me holding my breath for them.

✔️𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:

Dual Timelines
Dual POV
Mystery
Diverse Characters
Atmosphere
Bit of romance
Multiple subplots

🎧𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?

Emily Rankin and Caroline Hewitt brought this fascinating historical mystery to life. They gave each character their own natural inflections which brought even more flavor to the story.

📖𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?

This is a story that just flew by. As the story alternated between past and present, everything flowed together seamlessly as each chapter meshed together and further explained the mystery behind the doll houses.

Thank you NetGalley and WilliamMorrow for this gifted copy.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses is a sweet book about strong women throughout history. I really enjoyed the multiple timelines and POVs and seeing how they tied together in the end. If you like historical and women's fiction, you'll probably enjoy this. It wasn't anything groundbreaking, but one of my favorite authors is Fiona Davis and this story was reminiscent of hers.

Overall, I enjoyed this just fine. Great narrator in the audiobook.

Absolutely loved this audiobook! The narrator makes you get lost in the story - to learn all the "secrets" that were in the doll houses and the hidden history of each woman.

As a fan of historical fiction, I'm always looking for stories that introduce me to people or events that I'm unfamiliar with. The library of Lost Dollhouses did just that. This duel timeline story connects Tildy, who serves as head curator at the Belva Curtis LeFarge library and museum in modern day San Francisco with the adventures of Cora Hale as she finds her way through Paris in the lead up to WWI and beyond.

After discovering a set of elaborate dollhouses in a hidden room at the museum, Tildy dives into the world of miniatures in an attempt to trace their origins. As she searches, long buried secrets come to the surface and Tildy finds her own family being drawn in to the mystery.

Unlike many duel timeline historical fiction novels, this doesn't focus predominately on the historical timeline; we get to spend a great deal of time with Tildy in the present and watch, in what feels like real time, as she unravels the truth of the dollhouses and their hidden depths.

The audio was well done and the narration was top notch.

I'm always looking for historical fiction that bring to life history in a unique way. This dueling timeline adventure dives into the world of miniatures fit that bill. Long buried secrets are uncovered and the weaving between the past and present timelines kept me reading. I appreciated the author decision to not focus on the wartime era- which in my opinion is over done in historical fiction. Decisions to use well known, real-life characters like Walt Disney was a better choice and enhanced the focus on the artistic endeavors, rather than situational circumstances.

I listened to the audio version of this book and found the performance to be well done and was easy to read through.

A solid historical fiction.

Tildy Barrows is the head curator of an archival library in San Francisco. When she learns that the library is on the verge of bankruptcy, she is determined to do something to save the library. And then inspiration strikes when she discovers two beautiful dollhouses. She believes if she can find out more about their history and the mystery behind them, they might become a moneymaking exhibit for the museum.

The story then flashes back to Cora Hale and her story, set on the cusp of WWI when she’s starting her journey to become a premier minaturist to the aristocrats of Europe.

The journey spans across time and the globe as Cora’s artist life flourishes and Tildy looks for answers. Belle Époque Paris, the English countryside during wartime, and Walt Disney’s studios in the 1950s are just some of the places you’ll explore while reading this story.

Why Kirsten loves it
I ADORED this unique novel and its female protagonists. I was as connected with Tildy’s search for answers as I was with Cora’s quest to follow her passion. There are love stories in both timelines that feel authentic and add layers to the novel in a natural way. I was sad to turn the last page of this book, but I know I’ll be recommending it for years to come! #Gifted by Harper Audio

Thank you NetGalley for the audio copy of this book!

This was such a fascinating tale! A twisty mystery for those who enjoy books about a library, brace and daring women, artists, hidden family secrets, and war.

I attempted to put the pieces together but I was unable to figure it out until there was only 20 or less pages left to the story. This was so well done, thoroughly thought out, and planned.

There is FF representation that was tasteful and contributed to the plot line. There is a small pinch of romance but it’s mostly closed door or insinuated. Again, tasteful and respectfully done.

The after from the author really brought the story full circle in a very heartfelt way. I think this would make a wonderful book club read! I will be thinking about this book long after finishing.

This book spanned modern history from the 1910's-2024.
Tildy finds two ornate dollhouses in a hidden room of the museum she is a curator for. As she looks into the dollhouses' history she finds that her own mother has a previously unknown personal connection to them.
Through the development of dollhouses that showcased women's homes and lives we see how women have made their accomplishments and lives smaller, mostly because of the era they lived in.
I was fascinated by the points of history this novel touched on, including women's involvement in WWI and WWII.
The audio version had a captivating narration.

This was a really lovely story with such wonderful characters - and messaging. I loved the blending of past and present, and all the descriptions of the Belle, which reminded me of the feel of Fiona Davis's novels about historic NYC buildings. The history was fascinating, as was the peek behind the curtain of running a historic home-turned museum. The narration was perfectly suited to the paired storylines. I will definitely keep me eye out for more Elise Hooper!

I loved every second of this book. I love a dual story line and a mystery that keeps you constantly guessing. I’ve always loved miniatures. I loved the miniature dollhouse at the Smithsonian‘s ever since I was a little girl and I’ve also loved looking at the miniatures in Walt Disney World and Disneyland. As an adult, I learned about the nutshell houses and have been fascinated by them as well and one day hope to see them in person. Reading the author’s notes, I felt a very large connection and I’m so glad I read this book.

Tildy, who likes keep to her regularly scheduled routine as a head curator at a library in San Francisco, one day finds a mysteriously hidden door where she uncovers very detailed dollhouses. Each dollhouse holds their own secrets and open the door to not only her family's history but the hidden secrets of others as well. 

Their stories span over a century, including parts of World War 1. It covers a young women forced to deal with repercussions of her sexuality in a time where this is uncommon, trauma, loss and healing, lots of secrets and the burden they carry. 

I enjoyed the mystery and finding out how both the dollhouses and the people were interconnected. This book is not based on truth, but the author takes inspiration from real people, which was kind of interesting! I liked seeing how these dollhouses brought a community people together both in the past and the present.

I adored this book! I always wanted a dollhouse when I was a kid so there was some definite nostalgia with all of the miniature talk. I loved the 2 different time periods that the book jumped back and forth to. I listened to this mostly in one sitting because I was so enthralled - great narrator!

4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

I was given this ARC by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I loved the idea of and the setup of this story, but unfortunately, it was almost a bit of a chore to keep listening to it. I liked the premise, the homage to the wonderfulness of libraries, librarians, and all things archival and traditional, especially in a time when public services like libraries and making knowledge accessible are under constant fire, but I didn’t have any characters to root for or really discover in depth and the mystery fell a bit short. I was enticed by these dollhouses and the stories behind them, but the pace didn’t have me chomping at the bit to see what happened next or how things tied together so it fell a bit flat for me and likely would have been a DNF for me had I not been reading and reviewing an ARC.

Title: The Library of Lost Dollhouses
Author(s): Elise Hooper
Genre: Fiction, Historical
Date Published: April 1, 2025
Date Read: March 28, 2025
Format: Audiobook
Free?: This book was received as a an eARC audiobook courtesy of NetGalley.
Overall Rating: ★★★★.5/5

Setting Rating: 📍📍📍📍📍/5
Conflict Rating: 💣💣💣/5
Tear Rating: 💧💧💧/5
Humor Rating: 😆😆/5

-ˋˏ✄ᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧᐧ⇢

🔍 TL;DR
⤷ When librarian Tildy Barrows discovers two hidden dollhouses in her beloved archival library, she uncovers clues that suggest a mysterious message from the library’s long-deceased founder. As she investigates their origins—spanning Belle Époque Paris, post-WWI England, and 1950s Hollywood—Tildy unearths forgotten histories, unexpected connections, and a chance to rewrite her own future.

📣 Favorite quote
⤷ Miniatures allow us to create the world as we would like to see it.

🎥 Synopsis
⤷ Tildy Barrows, the meticulous Head Curator of a historic San Francisco library, is stunned to discover two intricate, long-lost dollhouses hidden within its walls just as the institution faces financial ruin. Clues tucked inside the miniatures hint at a final message from the library’s enigmatic founder, Belva Curtis LeFarge. Determined to save the library and unravel the mystery, Tildy embarks on a journey through hidden histories—from Belle Époque Paris to postwar England to 1950s Hollywood. Along the way, she uncovers forgotten stories of remarkable women, unexpected personal revelations, and a new sense of purpose in her own life.

📋 Review
⤷ I was immediatelly obsessed with this book the moment I started listening to it. I build miniatures as one of my many hobbies, though I’m sure my crafstwomanship is nowhere near the intricacy and detail of Cora Hale’s. The idea of finding a hidden room in a library with dollhouses hooked me instantly, and I couldn’t wait to find out the stories behind them.

⤷ Cora’s story is at times sad and absolutely heart-wrenchingly beautiful, and I enjoyed the time-skipping between timelines of Tildy and Cora. Tildy’s journey to find answers from the past was such a beautiful contrast to Cora’s hiding the truth in plain sight, and Elise Hooper did a magnificent job of interweaving real events of the past (WWI & WWII, the sinking of the Titanic, Disneylandia) and creating a believable and intriguing alternate history.

Before I listened to the author’s note at the end, I was already getting Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum vibes from the Belva Curtis LaFarge Library (aka "The Bel"), and was very pleased to learn it was a major inspiration for the setting.

🌟 I wish…
⤷ I wish the story never ended! I wish I could visit The Bel, and I wish I could see Cora Hale’s dollhouses. The description of the beautiful stained glass ceiling and the details of the miniatures made me long for these to be real.

👍🏻 Recommend?
⤷ A million times yes. If you enjoy stories about libraries, miniatures, historical fiction, secrets, and found families, this is for you!

This book was a fun surprise for me. I enjoyed the back and forth story from the artist in the first half of the 1900's and the historian/archivist of 2024. They were both (Cora and Tildy) likable characters and the way the story unfolds one layer at a time is interesting. The chapters always ended when you wanted to hear more, but since the last chapter about the other character did the same it was always satisfying since I wanted to know what was going on with them too. The only problem is I WANT TO SEE THE DOLLHOUSES!! I want to play with the dollhouses!
Some of the history was a bit rushed through--especially the parts that connected Cora to Tildy,

I really enjoyed the storytelling of the author. Once I got sucked into the story, particular the pieces from the past and the development of the art and dollhouses. The narrator did a great job with the book and it was easy to get sucked into the storyline, even with different POVs/time jumps.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advance audiobook of this story. All opinions are my own.

This was a FASCINATING, layered dual timeline historical fiction story about a librarian in the present who discovers a room of incredible forgotten dollhouses - each one a masterpiece in craftsmanship and skill. As she tracks down the dollhouses history she learns more about the woman who made them and her very interesting life. Full of rich historic detail, a passionate librarian and a moving Sapphic romance. I really enjoyed this especially on audio and it just may be a new favorite by this beloved author! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Tildy Barrows is the Head Curator at an archival library in San Francisco. Unfortunately, she finds out the library is on the verge of bankruptcy. Can the hidden room she found with two dollhouses help save the library? Tildy finds something that may be a link to her past. The story is told in two timelines so we learn who made the dollhouses and her story. Tildy is determined to research the history to help both the library and get her own questions answered.

I enjoyed listening to narration of Emily Rankin and Caroline Hewitt.