Enter the lush world of 1950s New York City, where a generation of aspiring models, secretaries, and editors live side by side in the glamorous Barbizon Hotel for Women while attempting to claw their way to fairy-tale success in this debut novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue.“Rich both in twists and period detail, this tale of big-city ambition is … of big-city ambition is impossible to put down.”—People
When she arrives at the famed Barbizon Hotel in 1952, secretarial school enrollment in hand, Darby McLaughlin is everything her modeling agency hall mates aren’t: plain, self-conscious, homesick, and utterly convinced she doesn’t belong—a notion the models do nothing to disabuse. Yet when Darby befriends Esme, a Barbizon maid, she’s introduced to an entirely new side of New York City: seedy downtown jazz clubs where the music is as addictive as the heroin that’s used there, the startling sounds of bebop, and even the possibility of romance.
Over half a century later, the Barbizon’s gone condo and most of its long-ago guests are forgotten. But rumors of Darby’s involvement in a deadly skirmish with a hotel maid back in 1952 haunt the halls of the building as surely as the melancholy music that floats from the elderly woman’s rent-controlled apartment. It’s a combination too intoxicating for journalist Rose Lewin, Darby’s upstairs neighbor, to resist—not to mention the perfect distraction from her own imploding personal life. Yet as Rose’s obsession deepens, the ethics of her investigation become increasingly murky, and neither woman will remain unchanged when the shocking truth is finally revealed.
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More please! This was a really good book
This dual-time frame novel takes you on a wonderful trip to the 1950s while weaving in the present day. I enjoyed the description of the Barbizon Hotel and the girls who found themselves living there while becoming models or attending the Gibson Girls secretarial school. With class and beauty serving as a dividing line between the residents, you will experience fear, insecurity, arrogance, friendship, love, sacrifice, and life changing moments.
I enjoyed the way the present day story had its own set of issues and intrigue while serving as the vessel to share the story of the girls at “the dollhouse.”
I am looking forward to reading more books by Fiona Davis!
The setting is interesting, The conception is fun and it’s well written.
The Dollhouse is a smooth, easy and compelling read.
The book alternates between time periods and points of view. The points of view are clear and concise and held my attention. I really enjoyed both perspectives and time periods. Loved the descriptions of the hotel and the wonderful snapshots of the time period. It even had great smells, and lighting. This is a character driven story more about class distinction and its ultimate outcome. Rose is from a small town in Ohio trying to find her place New York. She is stuck between the working class, where she is trying hard to fit in, and with, “the Giraffes,” the models on her floor. She is in New York for a secretarial school but is stuck among the giraffes. Great scenes and conflicts. Well done.
The hotel (a real historical location) almost, but not quite, carries an equal weight of a character.
All the micro conflicts dovetail nicely into the main conflict, the forward motion of the story. There is a tasteful love scene with descriptions handled masterfully.
The alternating chapters shift between 1952 and current day. Each plot line is dynamic enough to carry its own story
line–its own novel, and held my attention which is difficult to do jumping time periods. Each time there was a shift I wanted to stay in the story and not move to the next. Another sign of a master story teller. I also loved the way the story came together in the end. If I have any criticism at all it’s the last two pages after the book was over, they came off as a little too saccharine and unnecessary.
I highly recommend this book.
I read this lush novel in one sitting and loved learning about life at the mythic Barbizon Hotel in Manhattan. I admired how the author wove the modern-day story of Rose together with the mid-century struggles of Darby to create a strong story of friendship as well as a mystery that kept me turning the pages. This book is an ode to women and how far we have come, a love story, and a mystery. I highly recommend it.
The Dollhouse was Fiona Davis’ debut novel. The novel is set at The Barbizon Hotel and hs dual timelines. The Barbizon in 1952 was a hotel for young women who were going to school in the city. The story then centers on Darby McLaughlin, who is in secretarial school and one of the hotel maids, Esme. In 2016, the Barbizon is now condominiums and we meet Rose, a journalist, who loves there with her boyfriend. A chance meeting between Rose and Darby sets a fascinating story about the mysterious Darby and what happened at the hotel all those years ago! I love a story that blends good fiction with historical accuracy and this one is a winner!!
I liked it as it had a historical base and interesting characters
great historical novel
The writer was able to weave the characters through the period of time in the book, making it more realistic.
Enjoyed how it all came together in the end.
Historic read
I love anything about NYC. This was no exception.
If you remember the 50s and 60s, love jazz and mysteries, then this one is for you!
Rose Lewin has just moved in with her newly divorced boyfriend. A former network reporter, she is at a new job that she considers a career setback. At the moment, she is unsure of the decisions she has made in her life. She is living at the former Barbizon hotel which used to house women pursuing modeling and secretarial careers.
While walking through the condo lobby one evening, Rose comes across an unfriendly elderly resident. By way of the doorman, she finds out that this woman and a few others are long-term tenants of the former hotel. She learns that this woman was involved in an accidental death that took place back in the ‘50’s. Rose sees a possible story to report and decides to investigate this further.
As Rose investigates the death in the building we are introduced to Darby McLaughlin. With a flashback to 1952, she has just moved from Ohio to start classes in Katherine Gibbs secretarial school. Upon arrival, Darby is not treated nicely by the women on her floor. Having a hard time fitting in, she is friended by a maid at the hotel named Esme. Through Esme, she is introduced to a darker side of New York City. The more information Rose obtains about Darby during her research, the more obsessed she becomes with getting the whole story. We learn how Darby’s and Esme’s relationship develops, the accidental death, and who Darby is today in 2016.
The chapters alternate between present day and the ‘50’s. The stories of Rose and Darby are well interwoven. I enjoyed the creativity of the author in providing the reader with two parallel lives that ultimately converge into one. This book is filled with suspense, dilemma and mystery. The book also supplied interesting and informative detail on the lives of those living in the hotel in the 1950’s. This is a debut novel, and I look forward to reading more books from this author .
Amazingly irresistible ending!
I loved this book! The characters from the fifties were more believable than the current day characters, though. It was worth the read: suspenseful, some history or basis for the plot, and it kept me interested until the very end.
Centered around the women of the Barbizon hotel/condos in New York City. Yes, the Silvia Plath one, but the story is not about her. The narrative switches between two main characters. In 2016, Rose is a shamed news anchor who is rebuilding her life as a journalist living with her boyfriend in his Barbizon condo. She learns of an eccentric group of ladies who are hold overs from the earlier days when the Barbizon was a hotel for career ladies. While her world is being turned upside down she takes solace in these unique women particularly Darby, a recluse with a tragic history. In 1952 Darby has just arrived in New York from her small Ohio town to attend secretarial school. Due to a clerical error her room is on the floor with the Ford model girls instead of fellow typists. She has a hard time fitting in with them but makes friends with a feisty maid named Esme. She is thrust into a world unknown to her of jazz night clubs, foreign food and a handsome cook. So how did she end up hiding at the Barbizon for decades? This was an enjoyable read.
If you grew up in NYC in the 70’s you will love this.
I read this book because I liked The Address by the same author. While this one is good, it doesn’t quite measure up to the first one.
I’ve become a HUGE Fiona Davis fan!!
She is a master storyteller and I love that she writes historical fiction so that I learn some great facts in a wonderful way. I honestly wasn’t that interested in this books topic, The Barbizon Hotel for Women. But it popped up on a deal so I got it and of course I couldn’t put it down.
Great story and a fabulous read! I remember being with my mother and looking at the Barbizon when I was thinking of design school back in a transitional time… early 1970’s. Was totally scared away by the Ford models living there. Little did I know just how scary stuff could be. Fascinating story. Looking forward to Ms Fiona Davis’ upcoming book!!