***I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
A woman learns to expand the boundaries of her small world and let love inside it in this sparkling and unforgettable novel by Audrey Burges.
From her attic in the Arizona mountains, thirty-four-year-old Myra Malone blogs about a dollhouse mansion that captivates thousands of readers worldwide. Myra’s stories have created legions of fans who breathlessly await every blog post, trade photographs of Mansion-modeled rooms, and swap theories about the enigmatic and reclusive author. Myra herself is tethered to the Mansion by mysteries she can’t understand—rooms that appear and disappear overnight, music that plays in its corridors.
Across the country, Alex Rakes, the scion of a custom furniture business, encounters two Mansion fans trying to recreate a room. The pair show him the Minuscule Mansion, and Alex is shocked to recognize a reflection of his own life mirrored back to him in minute scale. The room is his own bedroom, and the Mansion is his family’s home, handed down from the grandmother who disappeared mysteriously when Alex was a child. Searching for answers, Alex begins corresponding with Myra. Together, the two unwind the lonely paths of their twin worlds—big and small—and trace the stories that entwine them, setting the stage for a meeting rooted in loss, but defined by love.
The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone by Audrey Burges is a sweet, slow-burn romance with just a bit of magical realism.
Story Recap:
Myra Malone lives in a cabin with her mother in the Arizona Mountains and she blogs about her extraordinary minuscule mansion, or dollhouse. But, don’t let Myra hear you call it a dollhouse! She has thousands of followers who hang on her every word about the mansion. She changes the decor in each room with hand-crafted furniture and accessory pieces. But, the mansion sometimes has its own ideas as rooms appear and disappear as do Myra’s decor choices. Myra is a recluse and doesn’t leave her mountain cabin ever. She relies on her mother and her best friend to bring her supplies and they are her only human contact.
Alex Rakes works in his family’s custom furniture business, but he doesn’t enjoy the work. When a couple of customers mention The Minuscule Mansion’s blog, he is instantly intrigued. The mansion is an exact duplicate of his full-sized mansion, which he lives in alone. It was his mother’s home, and a home his father despised. So what is a woman, who lives in the Arizona mountains doing with an exact duplicate of his home?
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this sweet, unique story. I was intrigued by the dollhouse, and I could see its popularity with Myra’s blog followers. Myra is a recluse, and I wanted to know why she became that way. Her best friend Gwen is the powerhouse behind the blog and just a wonderful best friend for Myra.
This has a few timelines, but the current timeline was the most compelling for me. The book has flashbacks to Myra’s past and we get to learn more about why she is a recluse, and how she acquired the minuscule mansion. And there is another timeline that follows the history of the full-sized mansion that Alex lives in.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About Audrey Burges
Audrey writes novels, humor, short fiction, and essays in Richmond, Virginia. Her presence is tolerated by her two rambunctious children and very patient husband, all of whom have become practiced at making supportive faces when she shouts “listen to this sentence!” She is a frequent contributor to numerous humor outlets, including McSweeney’s, and her stories and essays have appeared in Pithead Chapel, Cease, Cows, and lengthy diatribes in the Notes app on her phone. Audrey was born and raised in Arizona by her linguist parents, which is a lot like being raised by wolves, but with better grammar. She moved to Virginia as an adult but still carries mountains and canyons in her heart, and sometimes, when she closes her eyes, she can still smell ponderosa pines in the sun.
I’ve had this on my TBR for awhile. It sounds interesting and maybe the touch of romance isn’t TOO much romance? 🙂 I like a touch of magical realism though. Thanks for the visit.
Great review, Wendy! I’m super intrigued by the different timelines as I love that in any book. I’m always more into timelines that are set in the past so I wonder if this would also be the case with this book since you say you enjoyed the current one the most. Anyways, thanks for sharing as always!
It’s interesting that the current timeline was the most compelling for you because Willa’s story is what intrigued me. I wanted to know more about her magic and immortality- where it came from and what the extent of it is. I guess the speaks to your love of romance and my love of fantasy 😂
Both covers are good! Not really my type of book, although it definitely has some intriguing sounding parts in it. Great review!
I love dollhouses and miniatures so this would hook me for that alone. The plot on this sounds amazing and I’m so glad to see you enjoyed it!
This sounds like the perfect setting for a scary story.
I couldn’t resist adding it to my wishlist after your review… It sounds so good!
Aww thanks, I hope you enjoy it!
I have this one too and I hope to pick it up soon so I’m happy to see you enjoyed it!
I hope you enjoy it, Rachel!
This seems pretty interesting, and I like the idea of the multiple timelines. Great review!
Thank you, Lucy
This sounds good fun and I like that the house/s are an important part of it. Lovely review, Wendy 🙂
Thank you, Mallika!
This sounds like a blast, great review Wendy!
Thank you, Rae!
Sounds interesting. I enjoy magical realism.
Thank you, Bonnie
I’ve had this on my TBR for awhile. It sounds interesting and maybe the touch of romance isn’t TOO much romance? 🙂 I like a touch of magical realism though. Thanks for the visit.
Oh, the romance is very much secondary.
I ended up DNFing this at 25%, perhaps I should look at it again. Wonderful review Wendy.
It did have a slow start. I was so intrigued with the doll house.
Excellent review, Wendy. I have not heard of this book, but I do enjoy Women’s Fiction, Thanks for introducing me to this book.
Thank you, Carla! It’s a unique premise.
What an interesting premise for a book! Great review Wendy. I prefer the UK cover but they are both beautiful!
Thank you, Jodie!
This book and this author are new to me, but my goodness, what a lovely unique premise and item linking them together — it sounds magical really.
It was! Thank you, Verushka!
I never heard of this book nor the author before. I am intrigued by the premise.
It’s very interesting,
This is such a unique story idea. It sounds great!
Thank you!
I’m intrigued by that dollhouse and why she has it!
This one sounds good and I love the US cover.
I love the US cover too! It’s more ‘magical’ looking than the UK cover.
Hello Wendy,
This book looks interesting. I want to read it. Thanks for your review. 🙂
Thank you!
I don’t usually gravitate towards Romance, but this story sounds interesting. I’m going to add it to Goodreads. I love the title, too. 🙂
This one is a lot more than a romance. I hope you like it when you get to it.
I saw another good review for this on Tessa’s blog this week. Glad you also enjoyed it, Wendy!
Thank you, Teri! It’s a good one.
What an interesting book! Your review makes me want to know the characters, to know their backgrounds, and to discover what the future holds for them.
Thank you, Linda!
Great review, Wendy! I’m super intrigued by the different timelines as I love that in any book. I’m always more into timelines that are set in the past so I wonder if this would also be the case with this book since you say you enjoyed the current one the most. Anyways, thanks for sharing as always!
It’s unusual for me to enjoy the present timeline more than the past.
I’ve never heard of this book before, but it does sound unique and compelling. I’m definitely going to check it out. Thanks for the review!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
It’s a good one!
What an interesting premise for a book! Great review!
Thank you, Amanda
Wonderful review Wendy!🤗📚☕💜
Thank you, Susan
It’s interesting that the current timeline was the most compelling for you because Willa’s story is what intrigued me. I wanted to know more about her magic and immortality- where it came from and what the extent of it is. I guess the speaks to your love of romance and my love of fantasy 😂
Yes! That’s true. 🙂
This one sounds really interesting and I’ve seen several great reviews for it lately. I definitely prefer the US cover though.
I do too! The US cover is better IMO
I like magical realism, but the multiple timelines may be too much for me.
I can understand that, Rosie.
This does sound really different but like a good read too, great review 😊
Thank you, Jenny