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adailey's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
I’m feeling very 50/50 about this book. The first 100 pages I was not super into it. Then I couldn’t put it down. THEN I finished it and found the ending really cheap. I loved Darby a lot and was very invested with how her story played out. I kept pushing through Roses parts just to be back in 1950’s with Darby. Which is exactly how Rose felt, but Rose to me was not likable at all and I was fine with that because I thought that was the point. I was wrong. Apparently we are supposed to forgive her for being extremely weird and selfish?? I don’t know, to me the ending wrap up was really unbelievable, and it spoiled what could’ve been a five star read. Anyways love Sam and Darby❤️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
erikarosereads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence
pricklybriar's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Sexual assault
Minor: Drug use
vannahcabana's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Set in 1952 and 2016, this book switches the year almost every chapter. It follows the journey of a journalist writing a story on a young woman attending secretarial school in New York. I overall thought this was a good read. It was a little slow in some parts, but it kept me interested enough to finish. A bit of a plot twist toward the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
mrsscherbastsky's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
town_scar's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Torture
mhinnen's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Having just read The Address, which I loved, I thought I would take a look at some of Fiona Davis' other books. I didn't love this one as much, but it was a strong story with lots of information about 1950s NYC and the options for young women.
The title comes from the Barbizon Hotel for Women aka "The Dollhouse." Young white women who had connections could live there while they pursued dreams of modeling, publishing, or secretarial work (we learn it is preferred that secretaries are naturally well endowed). Men call the hotel a dollhouse - waiting for the women inside to turn into "real" women who are there for their enjoyment. The misogyny is overt and meanness and cruelty permeate the culture.
The dual timeline follows residents Darby and Rose and alternates between the 1950s and 2016. Darby lives on the 4th floor - reserved for elderly women who never left the hotel and when it was turned into coops were offered rent-stabilized apartments. Rose is a journalist whose life is unraveling and stumbles into a mystery that she begins to research about a death that occurred decades earlier. She also discovers that amid the cruelty, there was joy and friendships. Some of the women found that their independence helped them break free of the limited options they were told they had. Rose's own insecurities are exposed as she romanticizes and projects her fear onto the lives of the women whose lives she is learning about.
I really enjoyed the book and the mystery. There were some side stories that, while I appreciated them, were a bit distracting and could have actually been a little less detailed (or written as a main storyline in another book).
The title comes from the Barbizon Hotel for Women aka "The Dollhouse." Young white women who had connections could live there while they pursued dreams of modeling, publishing, or secretarial work (we learn it is preferred that secretaries are naturally well endowed). Men call the hotel a dollhouse - waiting for the women inside to turn into "real" women who are there for their enjoyment. The misogyny is overt and meanness and cruelty permeate the culture.
The dual timeline follows residents Darby and Rose and alternates between the 1950s and 2016. Darby lives on the 4th floor - reserved for elderly women who never left the hotel and when it was turned into coops were offered rent-stabilized apartments. Rose is a journalist whose life is unraveling and stumbles into a mystery that she begins to research about a death that occurred decades earlier. She also discovers that amid the cruelty, there was joy and friendships. Some of the women found that their independence helped them break free of the limited options they were told they had. Rose's own insecurities are exposed as she romanticizes and projects her fear onto the lives of the women whose lives she is learning about.
I really enjoyed the book and the mystery. There were some side stories that, while I appreciated them, were a bit distracting and could have actually been a little less detailed (or written as a main storyline in another book).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
laheath's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I didn't like this book, the author's debut, as much as I've liked her others. I felt this storyline was sometimes repetitive, sometimes disjointed, and a little predictable. It was still an interesting story told in alternating chapters of Rose in 2016 and Darby in 1952. They're both likeable, though they make some poor choices, and both have to learn to keep going despite their circumstances. I would have liked an author's note discussing her research (maybe there was one in the print version?) but was able to find some information on her website.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Homophobia, Dementia, and Murder
Minor: Drug use
khaleesiofrivia's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I completely adored this book. Its fast, its intriguing, the characters are all vivid and the premise hooks you in right away. This book reminded me a lot of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in all the best ways. I can't wait to read this book again and again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault