August 2016

When I worked at Mademoiselle, the Barbizon Hotel was legendary as our Guest Editors stayed there. Thus, when THE DOLLHOUSE by Fiona Davis came across my desk, I was eager to read it. The history of the hotel is woven into a modern-day story. When the hotel was converted into high-end condos, a limited number of apartments were allocated for longtime residents. A story about one of these fictitious tenants, Darby McLaughlin, forms one of the narratives in the book. The other is of a modern-day woman, Rose Lewin, who is at a crossroads in her life. How their stories intertwine includes a mystery that has its roots back in the 1950s.

The book is filled with brilliant historical details that will illuminate why this hotel was so special. It sheltered women, but also was a place where dreams were born during a time when career opportunities were not available to women the way they are now. Even the hotel was segregated, with models, aspiring secretaries and editorial assistants each on their own floors.

THE DOLLHOUSE is a fun read. As it’s a debut, I look forward to much more from Fiona, who paces her story in a very clever way.