The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale by Virginia Kantra
4 Stars
My Review
The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale follows Dorothy “Dee” Gale as she runs away from a scandal in Kansas to start anew in Ireland. While pursuing her degree at Trinity College Dublin, Dee meets new friends and a love interest who help her discover herself and her passions.
I absolutely loved all of the characters in this novel. Dee grows from a timid, uncertain young woman into someone confident and self-assured, and it was incredibly satisfying to see her stand up to her ex-boyfriend professor in the final scenes. Her best friend and roommate, Reeti, was a joy to read—her journey to embrace her true passion was inspiring. I also felt for Sam, torn between family duty and his own dreams, and I absolutely adored Tim—I rooted for him the entire time and thought he was so sweet and deserving of happiness.
Although the novel features a slight love triangle, it was perfectly handled and didn’t distract from the story; I was rooting for Dee and Tim to be together the whole time. I also appreciated the strong theme of reclaiming what’s yours, seen through Dee’s family, her mentors, her writing group, and her friends.
The novel beautifully weaves elements of the classic Wizard of Oz, from character personalities to references like the good and bad witches, into a modern, fresh story. Overall, I adored this novel. If you’re a fan of The Wizard of Oz, I highly recommend giving it a read.
“It was not the certain happy ending I’d dreamed of. It was something better–a beginning , the start of an adventure into the magical unknown. “
Virginia Kantra
Other Books by the Author
Some of the author’s other beloved titles include Anne of A Different Island, Beth and Amy, Meg and Jo and many more.
Literary Pairing
The Dorothy Must Die series is an exciting modern retelling of The Wizard of Oz that flips the story on its head—portraying Dorothy as the villain and offering a darker, thrilling twist on the classic tale.
Shelf To Table
Banana Bread Muffins: Warm, golden-brown banana bread muffins, soft and tender on the inside with a slightly crisp top. Bursting with the sweet, comforting flavor of ripe bananas and a hint of vanilla
“Over the course of her year in Dublin, Sam finds wisdom, Tim finds his heart and Reeti finds her courage. And Dee rewrites her unfinished historical literary novel set in the dustbowl of Kansas, reimagining it as a story for children.”
Virginia Kantra