Title: Before DorothyAuthor: Hazel Gaynor
Published by: Berkley on Jun. 17, 2025
Genres: Historical Fiction
Pages: 368
Format: Paperback
Source: Berkley Publishing
Book Rating: 8.5/10
Long before Dorothy visits Oz, her aunt, Emily Gale, sets off on her own grand adventure, leaving gritty Chicago behind for Kansas and a life that will utterly change her, in this transporting new novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor.
Chicago, 1924: Emily Gale and her new husband, Henry, yearn to leave the bustle of Chicago behind for the promise of their own American dream. But leaving the city means leaving Emily’s beloved sister, Annie, who was once closer to her than anyone in the world.
Kansas, 1932: Emily and Henry have made a life in the warmth of the community of Liberal, Kansas, and among the harsh beauty of the prairie. Their lives hold a precarious and hopeful purpose, until tragedy strikes and their orphaned niece, Dorothy, lands on their doorstep.
The wide-eyed child isn’t the only thing to disrupt Emily’s world. Drought and devastating dust storms threaten to destroy everything, and their much-loved home becomes a place of uncertainty and danger. When the past catches up with the present and old secrets are exposed, Emily fears she will lose the most cherished thing of Dorothy.
Bursting with courage and heart, Before Dorothy tells the story of the woman who raised a beloved heroine, and ponders the what is the true meaning of home?
Review:
Insightful, inspiring, and atmospheric!
Before Dorothy is an enchanting tale that sweeps you away to Chicago and Kansas during the 1920s – 1930s when the country is reeling from the great depression, the farmers are struggling to maintain their livelihoods, identities, and health through the relentless heat, devastating wind storms, and catastrophic droughts, and the childless Emily Gale suddenly becomes the guardian of her eight-year-old niece Dorothy.
The prose is evocative and smooth. The characters are strong, resilient, and hardworking. And the plot is a captivating, emotional tale filled with life, loss, self-discovery, motherhood, familial drama, poverty, tragedy, heartbreak, community, courage, romance, friendship, and survival.
Overall, Before Dorothy is a creative, touching, heartwarming tale by Gaynor inspired by L. Frank Baum’s classic The Wizard of OZ that does a beautiful job of blending historical events with compelling, imaginative fiction.
This novel is available now.
Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.
Thank you to Berkley for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.
About Hazel Gaynor
Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, Irish Times, and internationally bestselling author known for her deeply moving historical novels which explore the defining events of the 20th century. Her most recent novel, The Last Lifeboat, was a Timeshistorical novel of the month, an Audie award winner, and was short-listed for the Irish Book Awards. Her work is published in twenty-seven territories to date. She lives in Ireland with her family.
Photo by Fran Veale.
