The Library of Lost Dollhouses: A Novel by Elise Hooper, is a Women’s Historical Fiction Novel. Covering the span of a century, it depicts how these commissioned doll houses contain the hidden stories of the women depicted in the book.

In addition to the book, I had the good fortune to be able to listen to the book simultaneously as well. Narrated by Emily Rankin and Caroline Hewitt, both voices clearly identified the POVs in the book and allowed the listener to be able to easily identify which timeline they were in.

Thank you to William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks and HarperAudio Adult | HarperAudio for the opportunity to read the eARC and listen to the ALC. All opinions are my own.


Print book Rating: 4 Stars
Audible book Rating: 5 stars
Pub Date: May 20 2025

Tags:
#WilliamMorrow
#HarperAudio
#TheLibraryofLostDollhouses
#Elsie Hooper
#EmilyRankin
#CarolineHewit
#YarisBookNook
#netgalley

The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hopper is a captivating blend of mystery, nostalgia, and emotional depth. The story revolves around dollhouses that hold secrets of the past, with each one acting as a key to unraveling family mysteries. Hopper’s evocative writing brings the world and characters to life, creating a perfect balance between tension and heartfelt moments.

The pacing is just right, with unexpected twists that kept me hooked, and the themes of memory, loss, and healing are explored beautifully. A big thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC and audiobook, which added an extra layer to the experience.

If you enjoy family sagas with a touch of the supernatural, this book is definitely worth reading.

I really enjoyed the premise of the book as it is original and interesting. Tildy Barrows is the Head Curator of a beautiful library, located in San Francisco. The library is in the historic Beaux Art building and her life revolves around her job. She will discover a secret past and hidden dollhouses located in the building. 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. 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. The Library of Lost Dollhouses comes out on April 1st. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity.

I enjoyed The Library of Lost Dollhouses. The characters were well-developed, and I loved the dual timeline structure—it added depth to the story and kept me engaged. The premise was unique and intriguing, and I found myself invested in both timelines as they unfolded.

However, the pacing felt a bit slow in parts, which made it hard to stay fully engaged at times.

Overall, it was a solid read with compelling characters and an interesting premise. I’m glad I read it.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the chance to listen to this title in exchange for my honest review. 3.75

The premise sounded intriguing, but it seemed like the author tried to cover too much. The story seemed a little disjointed and not all subplots were resolved.

Harper Audio ALC
I know when I pick up an Elise Hooper novel, I am going to get an engaging and fascinating historical fiction. This one is dual timelines, between past and present, and I was fully engaged in both Tildy and Cora's POV. I loved how this story story was structured around dollhouses and miniatures. These artistic endeavors took so much passion and finesse. It was so much fun to spend time in this world learning about something I knew not much about. Her characters had such great depth and tenacity, and I rooted for both of them. This would be a great novel for those that love historical fiction yet want a topic that there's not many fiction books about. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just finished my first ARC from NetGalley, and what a journey it was! The Library of Lost Dollhouses has an interesting premise, blending art, history, and mystery, but it took a while to get into. The dual timelines—from Belle Époque Paris to 1950s Burbank—were well done, and I enjoyed the way the stories of women artists connected across time.

The novel follows Tildy Barrows, the dedicated Head Curator of a historic library in San Francisco. Her discovery of two exquisite, hidden dollhouses sets her on a path to uncover long-buried secrets. The dual timelines are seamlessly woven, offering a captivating glimpse into the lives of ambitious women artists and the challenges they faced.​

While the book had some beautifully written moments, the beginning did start out slow for the first third of the book. That said, the historical details and the focus on women’s overlooked contributions to art made it a worthwhile read. If you love historical fiction with strong female leads and hidden stories from the past, you might enjoy this one! There were aspects of resilience, love, and the pursuit of truth woven into this mystery.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Harper Audio for the opportunity to experience this ARC by Elise. ✨

Spanning over a hundred years, The Library of Lost Dollhouses takes us on a journey through Belle Epoque era in Paris, World War I in England, 1950s Disneyland, and modern day San Francisco. I was amazed at how much the author was able to fit in between these pages, so many strong women, so much glorious emphasis on art and creativity, and so many secrets these various women kept but then felt compelled to ultimately express in the dollhouses Cora created. Suspenseful in parts, there was never a dull moment as the author made even the historical references entertaining and engaging. I will definitely look for other works by Elise Hooper.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Elise Hooper's The Museum of Lost Dollhouses is a historical fiction that alternates between Tildy a librarian working at a historical library and museum in modern-day San Francisco and a historical diary. Tildy discovers two breathtaking, never-before-seen historical dollhouses.

As she uncovers hidden clues within these remarkable miniatures, she starts to suspect that Belva Curtis LeFarge, the influential heiress who founded the library and museum a century ago, is leaving behind a significant final message. Who is the mystery artist who made the miniatures and why is there a miniature portrait of Tildy's enigmatic mother?

I loved this book. My only quibble is that I wish it was longer - there's a lot of living packed into this book. I listened to the audiobook version and the two readers were great.

Thank you @netgalley, @harperaudio and @elisehooper for the opportunity to listen to this book inturn for my honest review.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses is a dual timeline/flashback book that has such a beautiful premise of the story behind the finding of hidden dollhouses in The Bell, a historic library. The stories of the maker and those made for are deep and heartbreaking.

The narrators really were able to make you discover the personalities and tones of the characters and their plights.

“Any trouble a young person can find in a library is the best kind of trouble.”

Tildy Barrows, type A librarian extraordinaire, is the present day central character to this intriguing tale spanning over 100 years. Her discovery of 2 dollhouses hidden in a historic San Francisco library sets the tale in motion: one of generations of artists, literary notables and undercover agents. In each and every timeline these layered and complex characters share the guilt of hiding secrets from loved ones and the general public.

It is when Tildy slowly discovers that answers to a century of secrets are hidden within and on the walls of the stunningly decorated dollhouses, that the focus of the novel takes shape. Readers who have the patience to deal with numerous names at the onset will be rewarded with how the plot fills in like puzzle pieces clicking into place. I referred to my trusty character cheat sheet (with many question marks) many times during my audiobook listen and suggest readers limit distraction or the temptation to accelerate the speed, to enjoy the unique and compelling story.

Narrators Emily Rankin and Caroline Hewitt do an excellent job bringing a complex and multifaceted story to life. Thanks to Harper Audio and Net Galley for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses was a fascinating story based in dual timelines: current days San Francisco and England/France/NYC during the time surrounding both world wars. Main themes include art (painting and miniatures), family, secrets, healing, and the strength of women. While it’s probably not for everyone, I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it for other historical fiction lovers who are intrigued by the synopsis. It delivers what it promises.

An informative author’s note explains the real life inspirations behind the characters and plot points.

The audiobook narrators did a flawless job. Many thanks to HarperAudio Adult for the ALC.

I'm not normally a fan of books that switch back and forth between time periods, but this book did it so well that it was seamless.

Tildy is the head curator at a San Francisco library. Her library is her home, and even when the library was closed during COVID (nice fact drop there as the book is set in 2024 for the current time period) she still found herself drawn to the library. When a school bus breaks down in front of the library, she allows the kids to come in and wait for the bus to be ready to take them off to school. While one child (with a few friends to boot) comes in to use the bathroom, they find a secret room with two exquisite dollhouses in it. This leads Tildy down a road of discovery to find out more about the dollhouse creator and about her deceased mother. How the two connect... well, you have to read the book to find out.

Cora, the other main character in this book (also the dollhouse creator) has a secret that she has to keep and runs to Paris to get away from. Can she outrun her past, or will it catch up to her? Cora doesn't just build dollhouses, she builds secrets and dreams.

The book took a bit to get into, but once I got my footing, I couldn't stop listening. Steeped in history and twists and turns, this book was really good. The narrators in this book were exceptional. To the point that I could barely tell the difference in the voices.

I'd like to thank HarperAudio Adult and Net Galley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

This book was a great book. The characters each had their own stories. The surprises never stopped coming in the book. I recommend this for a fun, exciting adventure that takes in family stories, a library and of course dollhouses.

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. The narration was very good and enhanced reading along with the book.

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

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.

I was looking forward to reading The Library of Lost Dollhouses. The cover was so inviting, dollhouses, art, libraries are all topics that interest me. Unfortunately, the book did not meet my anticipation. I couldn’t relate to the characters or the story.

Emily Rankin and Caroline Hewitt did a great job on the narration.

Thank you Harper Audio and NetGalley for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Net Galley and Harper Audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook. While it is a general fiction book the historical references complete the story. I enjoyed the characters and the dual timeline and the creativeness of the story line. Women who built into telling about their secret lives within the dollhouse. I enjoyed the detail understanding of how miniatures are created. A unique and different story but still referencing history. There even was a shout out to Walt Disney and his miniatures. Thank you to the narrators Emily Rankin and Caroline Hewitt for bringing this story to life. Very enjoyable to listen to them.

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 audiobook is narrated by Emily Rankin and Caroline Hewitt who provide a clear and entertaining account of Cora's and Tildy's adventures. 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

This was such a unique, fun story! It incorporates hidden secret rooms and treasures in the form of elaborate miniature dollhouses. Tildy Barrows is the head curator of a library who discovers the intricate dollhouses. Tildy embarks on an adventure across the country to uncover the secrets of the dollhouses stemming from Paris and the English countryside. It was entertaining to go on the journey and learn the history of the women behind the dollhouses. Elise Hooper skillfully wove strong female WWI history with these dollhouses discovered hidden in an old library. This was my first novel by Hooper and I look forward to reading more by her.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.