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Book Review of The Dollhouse: A Novel

The Dollhouse: A Novel
debbiemd avatar reviewed on


Very good read. Hard to believe it is the author's first novel. Well written. The story of Esme, Darby and Sam told in 1952 - residents of the Barbizon Hotel for Women. Young women in NY in the 1950s who stayed in this hotel for women while modeling for Ford or going to the Gibbs Secretarial school. Jazz clubs, romance, and tragedy. And in alternating chapters the story of Rose in 2016, former news anchor now working at an online startup. She is living in the Barbizon with a boyfriend - who leaves her to go back to his ex-wife. She stumbles upon some of the former Barbizon girls now living on the 4th floor in rent controlled apartments and begins to research and write a story. She stumbles upon the mystery of an old tragedy from 1952. Along the way there is a new love interest and some new friends. Interesting history of the Barbizon. Satisfying ending.