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The Library of Lost Dollhouses

A Novel

Elise Hooper

320 Pages

On-Sale Date: 01/04/2025

ISBN: 9780063382145

Trim Size: 5.250in x 7.900in x 0.850in

Format:

$18.99

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“This beautiful page-turner kept me reading all night.” —Janet Skeslien Charles, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Library

“This one’s an absolute gem.” —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Queen

When a young librarian discovers hidden historic dollhouses in her library, 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.

A native New Englander, Elise Hooper spent several years writing for television and online news outlets before getting an MA and teaching high-school literature and history. Her debut novel, The Other Alcott, was a nominee for the 2017 Washington Book Award. More novels—Learning to See, Fast Girls, and Angels of the Pacific—followed, all centered on the lives of extraordinary but overlooked historical women. Hooper now lives in Seattle with her husband and two teenage daughters.

“Elise Hooper’s latest marvel takes readers on an enchanting journey from San Francisco to Paris, love to war, deception to redemption, as her main character—a little-known artist—moves out of the shadows into the limelight. This beautiful page-turner kept me reading all night.” — Janet Skeslien Charles, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Library

“Absolutely riveting. A stay-up-all night read.” — Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author, on Angels of the Pacific

“[A] heart-stopping tale of courage and resilience.” — Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author, on Angels of the Pacific

“Hooper’s eye for detail and skillful storytelling shine once more in …a gripping, satisfying read.” — Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author, on Angels of the Pacific

“Fast Girls is a high-speed romp…ambitious and heart-pounding…A gold medal read from Elise Hooper.” — Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author

“Kinetic, mesmerizing, and terrifically entertaining…A wonderful novel.” — Jennifer Robson, international bestselling author, on Fast Girls

“Heroism, strong characters, and period dialogue shine in Hooper’s latest.” — Booklist, on Fast Girls

“Told in intricate detail, against the backdrop of a world on the brink of war, the novel shines a light on these long- overlooked athletes.” — Real Simple, on Fast Girls

“Her adventures illuminate the world of intrepid female artists in the late 1800s, a milieu too little appreciated today…. The Other Alcott comes alive in its development of the relationship between Louisa and May.” — New York Times Book Review on The Other Alcott