REVIEW - The Library of Lost Dollhouses (ebook)

 The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper (ebook)

OVERVIEW

This is the first book I have read by Elise Hooper, and I have one word to describe it: LOVELY!! What a perfect book to start out my May reading journey! 

As much as I would like to avoid it, this book mentions (not the entire plot) of WWI and WWII. The parts included were needed and added so much to the depth of the storyline. 

One of the best parts of this lovely book is that strong, intelligent, and artistic women are the primary focus. Amazing!

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars.

 

Writing: 5.0 stars

Elise is an amazing author. She writes beautifully, descriptively, and emotionally. It is the writing that I seek out and most enjoy in the historical fiction genre. 

Character development: 5.0 stars

This was a dual timeline story with 1910-1974 (long) and 2024 (short) storylines. The character development was exceptional! The main character of the long storyline is Cora (a gifted artist), and the main character of the short storyline is Tildy (a head library curator). Once Tildy discovers a secret room in the private library where she works, her and Cora's lives intersect and implode. 

The secondary characters are Belva (long story; a wealthy woman), Hugh (long story; soldier), and Ben (short story; Cora's relative). 

The tertiary characters are the coworkers at the library, WWII soldiers, wealthy individuals, library patrons and contributors, and the family and friends of the main and secondary characters. Of course, the dollhouses are also beautiful characters, each in their own right.

Storyline:  5.0 stars

The long storyline is about Cora escaping her life to Paris to start an art career, but WWI and life get in the way. She escapes and lives in England, and then WWII breaks out, forcing her to remain. Cut to the short storyline when Tildy discovers the dollhouses. It was so well done to tie these disparate storylines together like a gorgeous piece of silk.

The locations were: New York City, Paris, rural England, rural New Hampshire, Los Angeles, and finally, San Francisco. 

Memorable/Informative:   5.0 stars

I knew nothing about these beautiful dollhouses, miniatures, and the artistic/engineering skills needed to make them. I am gob-smacked by the talent utilized for all of them. Now, I have something new and different to add to my bucket list!! 

Book cover: 4.5 stars

Lovely!

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Excellent! 

 

HIGHLY recommend

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: ebook

The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper (ebook)

320 pages 

William Morrow

FUTURE release date: 4/1/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Elise Hooper

Goodreads review

The Storygraph review

William Morrow

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)

TRIGGER WARNING: War, sexual situations, mild cursing, classism, pregnancy, death, death of a parent, medical content, domestic violence, violence

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

 

The Storygraph First Milestone!!!

Good evening, book blog friends!!

As you can see from my graphic, I have met my first milestone for The Storygraph! 100 consecutive days of reading!! Woo hoo! Now, to hit 200 straight days!

On a side note, I have been missing in action since Thursday. Unfortunately, my best friend's auntie passed away last Friday, with the Celebration of Life this weekend. Also, it was her widower/uncle's 90th birthday. So lots of remembrances, joy, and love this weekend! 

Thankfully, I could stay with my best friend at her hotel in San Clemente and support her during this difficult time. So much love, tears, and laughter shared between us for almost 60 years!!! 

So thanks for your support and patience! 

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

booksbydorothea - The Storygraph April 2025 Monthly Recap

Hi, book blog friends!!

If I didn't already LOVE The Storygraph, look at my monthly (April 2025) wrap-up graphics that are FREE to everyone! It is so much better than that "other site", which does nothing monthly!

If you like book statistics like me, check out booksbydorothea's April 2025 full, free statistics HERE.

Yes, I will keep the "other site" until publishers, authors, and my friends come over to The Storygraph!! Come on over, please be my "friend"!!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

booksbydorothea - April 2025 - Monthly Wrap-up

Hi, book blog friends!!

April was a hectic month for our family with college Spring Break (daughter), my birthday, Easter, jury duty for me (only two hours!), and the finale was a Sacramento school trip (daughter). I’m tired just reading about it, and I lived it!

Yes, I continue to read and listen to books to avoid the news and social media. Not listening to the news and not being on social media (except for my book-related accounts) has been a huge lift for my mental health! The good news was that this was another strong reading month with SEVENTEEN books (audiobooks and ebooks).

April had eleven five-star books: seven ebooks, four audiobooks, and no physical books. This was a unique month filled with incredible books!!!

 

BEST BOOKS APRIL 2025 (plus previous months) 

ebooks 2025

JANUARY

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis

What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange

More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova

Paris Undercover by Matthew Goodman

The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman

Come Fly with Me by Camille Di Maio

The Memory of Cotton by Ann K. Howley

The Secret History of Audrey Jones by Heather Marshall

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall

FEBRUARY

The Sirens by Emilia Hart

Swimming to Lundy by Amanda Prowse

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez

The Dressmakers of London by Julia Kelly

 

MARCH

This One Life by Amanda Prowse

Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner

Isola by Allegra Goodman

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick

 

APRIL

The Wandering Season by Aimie K. Runyan

The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris

Where the Rivers Merge by Mary Alice Monroe

Marsha by Tourmaline

Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan

The True Happiness Company by Veena Dinavahi

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly

Audiobooks 2025

JANUARY

Me by Elton John

Let’s Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen

FEBRUARY

Never by Rick Astley

Unlovable by Darren Hayes

Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come by Jessica Pan

 

MARCH

-NONE-

APRIL

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

The Next Day by Melinda French Gates

Time to Thank by Steve Guttenberg

Change the Recipe by José Andrés

Physical books

JANUARY-FEBRUARY; APRIL

-NONE-

MARCH

This One Life by Amanda Prowse

 

2025 READING GOAL

My goal is to read 101 books in 2025. As of April 30th, I have read 60 books, or 59.4% of my goal.

  

APRIL 2025 STATISTICS

17 total books

9 ebooks; 8 audiobooks; 0 physical books

7 books - ARC (Advanced Reader Copy)

9 books - Library

0 books – Purchased

0 books - Amazon First Reads

0 books - Book Club Girl

0 books – author gifted

0 books – friend gifted

 

Audio listening time in April 2025: 65 hours, 11 minutes

Pages read in April 2025: 3,104 pages

Average review rating: 4.71 stars

 

APRIL 2025 BOOK RATINGS with BOOK COVERS 

ebooks 2025

5.0-star ebook

The Wandering Season by Aimie K. Runyan LINK

The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris LINK

Where the Rivers Merge by Mary Alice Monroe LINK

Marsha by Tourmaline LINK

Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan LINK

The True Happiness Company by Veena Dinavahi LINK

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly LINK

4.5-star ebooks

The Language of the Birds by K.A. Merson LINK

 

4.0-star ebooks

A Clean Mess by Tiffany Jenkins LINK

NOTE: There were no 3.5-star or 3.0-star ebooks this month.

 

Audiobooks 2025

5.0-star audiobooks

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green LINK

The Next Day by Melinda French Gates LINK

Time to Thank by Steve Guttenberg LINK

Change the Recipe by José Andrés LINK

 

4.5-star audiobook

Source Code by Bill Gates LINK

4.0-star audiobooks

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver LINK

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams LINK

Fahrenheit-182 by Mark Hoppus LINK

 

NOTE: There were no 3.5-star or 3.0-star audiobooks this month

 

Physical books 2025

NOTE: There were no physical books read this month.

 

If you want to read my full review of any of these April books, there are individual review links for each ebook or audiobook next to the book title and author (under APRIL 2025 BOOK RATINGS with BOOK COVERS just above). Click on the specific book link to get to that book review.

April has been a fun reading month with so many extraordinary books. What have been YOUR most recent extraordinary books? Inquiring minds want to know!!

Happy reading!

Dorothea 💜

P.S. For additional helpful tools on my blog, check out:

Book Rating Legend LINK

Glossary LINK

booksbydorothea social media:

My next ebook is ...

 The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper (ebook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - A Clean Mess (eARC/ebook)

 A Clean Mess by Tiffany Jenkins (eARC/eBOOK)

OVERVIEW

This is the first book by Tiffany Jenkins that I have read. However, this is the second book she has written about her life with drug addiction. From what I understand, this second book begins where the last one stopped after she got out of prison, rehab, and finally a sober-living home.  

I have not read many books about drug addiction because it has not directly affected me, nor have I had a close friend or family member addicted to drugs. I am very fortunate in that regard.

I liked this book as it was an easy read about a difficult topic. I will not be reading her first book, as this second book was enough for me. I liked this book, but didn't love it! It just didn't connect with me. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars.

 

Writing: 4.0 stars

The writing was okay, but it wasn't a book of great literature, and that was not the intent. For the subject matter, the writing was on point. 

As a side note, the overuse of "dude" and f-bombs was a bit much. 

Character development: 4.0 stars

The main characters are Tiffany and Colin, who met at her cousin's recovery graduation event. Both were in recovery and had not yet achieved a year of sobriety. The book is told from Tiffany's viewpoint. 

The secondary characters are Tiffany's dad, Frank, and Tiffany's sister, Lanie. Additionally, her close female friends from recovery are also secondary characters.  

The tertiary character who is the most insidious is addiction. It is scary, horrifying, and humiliating.

Storyline:  4.0 stars

The storyline starts when Tiffany enters a women's sober living home. When she meets Colin, all hell breaks loose, and the rollercoaster begins. 

The main location was Florida.    

Memorable/Informative:   4.0 star

This memoir is very graphic and honest about how hard it is to stay sober with a drug addiction. Addiction is evil, vindictive, and manipulative. This explains why so many folks go to rehab several times before it sticks. But, sadly, many never get clean and sober and die from overdoses. 

What I would have loved is information, from an addict's perspective, on how to help keep kids off drugs, alcohol, and other addictions. This would have been helpful, or maybe it will be another book. 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Pretty!

 

Book title: 4.0 stars 

Very appropriate. 

 

DEFINITE recommend

NetGalley eARC/ebook

A Clean Mess by Tiffany Jenkins

304 pages 

Harmony

FUTURE release date: 6/3/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Tiffany Jenkins

Goodreads review

The Storygraph review

Harmony

NetGalley

TRIGGER WARNING: Drug use, infidelity, pregnancy, drug addiction, recovery, death of a parent, mental illness, heavy cursing

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

 

My next audiobook is ...

 Medicine River by Mary Annette Pember (audiobook)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Change the Recipe (audiobook)

 Change the Recipe by José Andrés (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

This was a beautiful memoir filled with so much good life advice. It may be my new gift for college graduates, as this was the book I needed when I started adulting!

However, I would have enjoyed it more as a physical or digital book instead of listening to it as an audiobook. There was just so much material that I would have absorbed it all better visually rather than verbally. 

Full disclosure: The charity, World Central Kitchen (WCK), that José co-founded, is one of two charities our family regularly supports. WCK was in Southern California almost immediately after the January 2025 fires and fed many people I know in Altadena and Pasadena.

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars.

 

Writing: 5.0 stars

The writing was passionate, powerful, and real. It was completely from José's heart. There was a ghostwriter, but it didn't affect Jose's message.

Narration: 5.0 stars

José is not a professional actor or speaker, but he read this audiobook with so much emotion.  

Of course, I am sure some people will complain that José has a Spanish accent on the audiobook, making it difficult to understand. I call bullshit! I have a Southern California accent - we all have accents!

The best thing to do is to read or listen to this book. It is an important book! 

Character development: 5.0 stars

There were no main characters per se. It is all about José, cooking, and WCK. José believes in good food, food that tells a story, and food for all. All three are beautifully interwoven throughout the book.

José's family of origin, his own family, WCK family, and extended chef networks play prominent roles throughout the book. Additionally, the customers who pay in his restaurants or folks helped by WCK are treated with grace, care, and hospitality. 

Memorable/Informative:   5.0 stars

For me, José takes way too much heat for feeding both sides of the Israeli/Palestinian war. Both sides are hungry and thirsty. 

His altruistic work of feeding the hungry is what José is passionate about. He has tried to stay out of the political drama, but it keeps rearing its ugly head. José's focus is getting food and water where it is needed quickly and efficiently while cutting through the idiotic red tape.

Entertaining/Educational:   5.0 stars

José hits the mark when he talks about endless wasteful meetings, while agencies wait instead of reacting to help after disasters. This is the same issue in the U.S. with our businesses and government - we talk too much about doing without doing anything at all. 

José and WCK get it done because they are creative, forward-thinking, and on the ground quickly. They assess the needs, speak to the helpers already there, and use the available resources at the disaster site. This is much better than waiting for supplies to arrive! 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Appropriate!

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Perfect, especially with the subtitle.  

 

HIGHLY recommend

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: audiobook

Change the Recipe by José Andrés

4 hours, 36 minutes 

Harper Audio

Release date: 4/22/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

José Andrés

World Central Kitchen

Goodreads review

The Storygraph review

Harper Audio

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)

TRIGGER WARNING: Mild cursing, classism, colonialism, war, violence, lack of food and water, xenophobia

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

 

My next eARC/ebook is ...

 A Clean Mess by Tiffany Jenkins (eARC/ebook)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club (eARC/ebook)

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly (eARC/ebook) 

OVERVIEW

This is the second book I have read by Martha Hall Kelly. But there was something so personal about this novel due to the presence of book clubs, book lovers, and book readers! Plus, the magical setting of Martha's Vineyard during WWII created a perfect combination for a historical fiction novel!

Yes, of course, this is another WWII book! With books at the center of this novel, how could I resist reading another WWII historical fiction novel?!?!

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars.

 

Writing: 5.0 stars

Martha writes beautifully, vividly, and descriptively. She is a writer who helps you use all of your senses to imagine exactly what takes place in this novel.

Character development: 5.0 stars

This was a dual timeline story with 1942 main characters of friends/sisters on Martha's Vineyard during WWII: Cadence (older sister), Briar (younger sister), and Besse (friend). The 2016 main characters were Mari (a young painter) and Mrs. Devereaux (a famous painter). 

The secondary characters are Gram (Cadence and Briar's grandmother), Tom (Cadence and Briar's brother), and Margaret (another friend).  

The tertiary characters are the extended friends, family, tourists, visitors, Army officers and soldiers, and "Islanders" on Martha's Vineyard (a beautiful character in its own right). 

Storyline:  5.0 stars

The storyline is typical of what so many American families endured during WWII. Their child(ren) went off to fight for our freedoms in Europe, Africa, or Asia. The main communication was the radio, with little detail about specific individuals, so the families worried yet had to carry on at the home front. I cannot imagine the fear and anxiety!

The locations were: Martha's Vineyard, almost exclusively.  

Memorable/Informative:   5.0 stars

I had no idea that German U-boats were so flagrant, visible, and close to our shores during WWII. My family lived on the West Coast in Los Angeles and had rationing and blackouts, but nothing as terrifying as Martha's Vineyard! 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Lovely!

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Great title! 

 

HIGHLY recommend

NetGalley eARC/ebook

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly

336 pages 

Ballantine Books

FUTURE release date: 5/27/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Martha Hall Kelly

Goodreads review

The Storygraph review

Ballantine Books

NetGalley

TRIGGER WARNING: War, sexual situations, mild cursing, classism, pregnancy, medical content, death, gun violence

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

 

My next audiobook is ...

 

Change the Recipe by José Andrés (audiobook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜