The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale

By: Virginia Kantra

Narrated by: Rachel L. Jacobs, Damian Gildea, Christian Coulson

A woman learns to follow her own road in this heartwarming novel inspired by The Wizard of Oz by New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra.

Dorothy “Dee” Gale is searching for a place to belong. After their globe-trotting mother’s death, Dee and her sister Toni settled with Uncle Henry and Aunt Em in Kansas, where Dee attends graduate school. But when Dee’s relationship with a faculty member, a bestselling novelist, ends in heartbreak and humiliation, she’s caught in a tornado of negative publicity. Unable to face her colleagues—or her former lover—Dee applies to the writing program at Trinity College Dublin.

Dee’s journey to Ireland leads her to new companions: seemingly brainless Sam Clery—who dropped out of college and now runs a newsagent’s shop—is charming and hot, in a dissolute, Irish poet kind of way; allegedly heartless Tim Woodman—who stiffly refused to take back his ex-fiancée—seems stuck in his past; and fiercely loyal Reeti Kaur, who longs for the courage to tell her parents she wants to teach underprivileged girls rather than work in the family business.

In a year of opportunities and changes, love and loss, Dee is mentored by powerful women in the writing program, challenging her to see herself and her work with new eyes. With her friends, Dee finds the confidence to confront her biggest fears—including her intimidating graduate advisor, who may not be so wicked after all.

Faced with a choice with far-reaching consequences, Dee must apply the lessons she’s learned along the way about making a family, finding a home...and recognizing the power that’s been inside her all along.

©2023 Virginia Kantra (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"This might be my favorite Virginia Kantra book! Perfectly emotionally pitched and delicately fierce, I don’t know how Kantra manages to capture the 'looking for home inside yourself' spirit of Wizard of Oz in such a contemporary way, but she does. I loved it!"—Sonali Dev, USA Today bestselling author of The Vibrant Years

"In this vivid reimagining of Dorothy's journey to the Emerald City, Kantra serves up a fresh, empowering tale of a young American in Dublin—out of her comfort zone and off on a quest to rebuild her life after a tornado of humiliation and heartbreak. The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale is a poignant novel about recovery from the deepest wounds, the true meaning of home, and the delicious satisfaction of regaining control of one's own story."—Amy Poeppel, award-winning author of The Sweet Spot

“Virginia Kantra excels at bringing fresh life to American classic heroines. Fans of Dorothy and her journey will adore the new Dee!”—New York Times bestselling author KJ Dell’Antonia

Will see what other books inspire her.

First, she was inspired by Little Women, now, the Oz books and The Wizard of Oz. Author and all threee narrators are in top form, though all three are ones I don't recognize. All three are excellent with different inflections and accents. An amazing storyline as well.

How clever

I loved the way the characters were developed. I loved that the story mimicked the original book. Very good book

Clever construct

Could not get past female narrator approach - petulant tone for primary; other characters in odd clipped tone

Very interesting

Well written and full of heart, a story centered around a young woman’s journey to self discovery.

Loved having some of it take place in Ireland

Loved the Irish Brough. The characters were very believable and I loved the girls story.