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Before Dorothy
Before Dorothy | Hazel Gaynor
6 posts | 3 read | 9 to read
Long before Dorothy visits Oz, her aunt, Emily Gale, sets off on her own unforgettable adventure...Chicago, 1924: Emily and her new husband, Henry, yearn to leave the bustle of Chicago for the promise of their own American dream among the harsh beauty of the prairie. But leaving the city means leaving Emilys beloved sister, Annie, who was once closer to her than anyone in the world.Kansas, 1932: Emily and Henry have established their new home among the warmth of the farming community in Kansas. Aligned to the fickle fortunes of nature, their lives hold a precarious and hopeful purpose, until tragedy strikes and their orphaned niece, Dorothy, lands on their doorstep.The wide-eyed child isnt the only thing to disrupt Emilys world. Drought and devastating dust storms threaten to destroy everything, and her 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 all: Dorothy.Bursting with courage and heart, Before Dorothy tells the story of the woman who raised a beloved heroine, and ponders the question: what is the true meaning of home?
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Lsmoore43
Lsmoore43
Before Dorothy | Hazel Gaynor
post image

This was such a fun book. Yes it was intense and in places it was very emotional. But it was still a fun one. You get to know about Auntie Em. From when she was young and single. To when she met and fell in love with Uncle Henry. How Dorothy came to live with them.

This book if full of Easter Eggs from The Wizard of Oz so be sure and look for them.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/06/before-dorothy-by-hazel-gaynor.html

rubyslippersreads Now I‘m even more excited! 👠🌈 5d
Lsmoore43 @rubyslippersreads I hope you love it as much as I did. I'm sure you will... 2d
19 likes2 comments
review
Aims42
Aims42
Before Dorothy | Hazel Gaynor
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Pickpick

This book was fantastic! I enjoyed it so much but the icing on the cake was the Author‘s Note at the end ? If you have any interest in The Wizard of Oz, The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, and strong female characters, add this to your TBR pile right now! I devoured this book over the weekend and greatly appreciated the escape from the +90° temps my neck of the woods was experiencing, as well as the escape from our dystopian reality as well.

Aims42 Themes: Strong Female Characters, Historical Fiction, The Wizard of Oz 1w
40 likes3 stack adds1 comment
blurb
Aims42
Aims42
Before Dorothy | Hazel Gaynor
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Reading in the shade with a steady breeze, it‘s actually not unbearable 😎🤪👍

41 likes1 stack add
review
SilversReviews
SilversReviews
Before Dorothy | Hazel Gaynor
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Pickpick

If you loved Auntie Em from the Wizard of Oz, you won‘t want to miss this beautifully written, heartwarming account of her life in Kansas.

There are subtle mentions of the characters and scenes in The Wizard of Oz, and it tells of Auntie Em‘s difficult life through the depression and the dust bowl in Kansas.

Another Hazel Gaynor gem. 5/5

https://tinyurl.com/4dvsd7jm

@hazelgaynor
@berkleypub
@penguinrandomhouse
@bookbrowse

29 likes1 stack add
review
Reecaspieces
Reecaspieces
Before Dorothy | Hazel Gaynor
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Pickpick

💙📚BOOK REVIEW IS UP📚💙

⭐️⭐️BEFORE DOROTHY BY HAZEL GAYNOR⭐️⭐️

⭐️QUICK THOUGHTS⭐️

⭐️Emotional and atmospheric

⭐️A story of love and strength

https://reecaspieces.com/2025/06/18/before-dorothy-by-hazel-gaynor-historicalfic...

38 likes1 stack add
blurb
SilversReviews
SilversReviews
Before Dorothy | Hazel Gaynor
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6/20

Another Hazel Gaynor gem that pulls you right in and warms your heart.

If you loved Auntie Em from the Wizard of Oz. you won‘t want to miss this beautifully written, heartwarming account of her life in Kansas.

There are subtle mentions of the characters and scenes in The Wizard of Oz, and it tells of Auntie Em‘s difficult life through the depression and the dust bowl.

@hazelgaynor
@berkleypub
@berkleyromance
@penguinrandomhouse

Aims42 This sounds fantastic!! Putting a hold in at my library for it now 🤩 I love ‘The Wizard of Oz‘ and any novels surrounding it. “Finding Dorothy” is another great read, it focuses more on L. Frank Baum‘s wife, Maud, and her story, a can‘t miss 👍 2mo
SilversReviews @Aims42 Thanks for your comment. I LOVED it - it is so good and so well done. ENJOY!! 2mo
MemoirsForMe Just heard about this book. Sounds so good! I‘m sure this one is in your list @rubyslippersreads 👠👠 1mo
See All 7 Comments
rubyslippersreads @MemoirsForMe I can‘t wait for this! 1mo
rubyslippersreads @Aims42 I enjoyed Finding Dorothy too. 1mo
SilversReviews @MemoirsForMe It is good!! 1mo
SilversReviews @rubyslippersreads I am sure you will enjoy it!! 1mo
34 likes1 stack add7 comments