What an incredible book!

I grew up adoring the movie The Sound of Music; I’ve probably watched it at least a hundred times. I’ve seen local stage productions of the musical a couple of times. I read Maria von Trapp’s autobiography a long time ago (so long ago that I only have vague memories of it). I’ve listened to the recordings from both the Broadway musical and the movie on repeat countless times. I wasn’t sure this book would have anything new to offer me, and boy was I mistaken!

I loved the inside look at Maria von Trapp’s real history. From her childhood to her time at Nonnberg Abbey to her meeting Georg von Trapp and his children to their rush to leave Austria after the Nazi takeover and their arrival in America. This book covers so much ground! I loved the new information, mostly about the time before and after what is covered in the musical/movie. There is quite a bit of difficult information (including the idea that Maria isn’t necessarily always the ray of sunshine she’s been presented as), but I think it’s very fairly and sensitively handled. And, even the parts that coincide with the musical were fun to read, despite me already being extremely familiar with them. I was more amazed at how much the show actually got right than what it changed or left out. It truly is a fascinating story.

Also, the author did an amazing amount of research and it shows. I loved learning about the real von Trapp children as individuals, including a bit about their adult lives. And the other people who were part of their lives, like Father Franz Wasner. I even feel like doing my own deep dive on someone like Bruno Walter would be warranted.

And I enjoyed how the author wrapped the von Trapp’s story into the story of how the musical was created. I’m not always a fan of dual timelines in books, but the author wrote it in such a way that I remained fully invested in both timelines. I didn’t know much about Oscar Hammerstein before this, but now I’m definitely interested to learn more. And the mentions of Mary Martin, Dick Halliday, and even Stephen Sondheim sparked my curiosity, too.

I think anyone who loves The Sound of Music musical or movie will love this book, but even if you haven’t been a fan previously, if you have an interest in history, this book has a lot to offer. Highly recommend!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. If you loved (or even liked) The Sound of Music, you will definitely love this novel! Structured as a dual timeline between Maria Von Trapp’s life in Austria as she is living it and her life as she relates it to Oscar Hammerstein’s assistant in the 1950s. This is an engaging and very enjoyable piece of historical fiction. Caveat: The Broadway musical as well as the movie version seem to be somewhat only loosely based on what actually happened to Maria and the rest of the Von Trapp family. Nonetheless, this novel may well have you singing or humming tunes from the musical/movie as you read along.

This one felt all the little bit real to me after visiting Stowe and learning about the family. None the less, I have always enjoyed the sound of music and this was a very interesting read. Thank you so much for the opportunity!

I love "The Sound of Music," and it's nice to know that most of the story was true. I liked how the story, "Maria,' filled in the part about where Maria came from before being a nun. However, this story also reveals a lot more about the character Maria then the movie, which changes the dynamic of the family once she became a mother. It seems that her past and the lost of money in the family made her very determine to do what ever she could not to repeat her past no matter what and was not able to see how her belief and determination could hurt others she was trying to help.
I loved that their singing actually help save their lives, just like the movie, but it happened in a more realistic way then the movie which would have been harder for movie audience to take. So, I'm glad they left it out and made the movie the way it was.
It is a little disappointing that a very small part of the story is fictional because this would have been a great non-fiction book. I loved learning everything about Maria and the Von Trapp family and how Georg really liked Maria. I also like the real life story of about Hammerstein and what happen to him. It never occurred to me that "Sound of Music," was his last play and it's sadden me that he never saw the movie.
I did like that the character Fran learned something from Maria and her family and applying it to her own life, but I wish the romantic part of the story was longer, because it was just getting more interesting when the story ends.

I want to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley for an advance copy of a story about Maria's more realistic story.

First, I have always loved the Sound of Music and Julie Andrews. And yes, I do know that Hollywood glamorizes what is real and takes many liberties in their storytelling. That being said, it was surprising to me to have the rose colored glasses torn off and see behind the scenes to meet the real Maria. I didn't realize her childhood background which affect her her whole life, nor as an adult her driving ambition of pushing her children to sing, sing, sing. Well written and detailed, I appreciated differing perspectives that only enriches the movie storyline and certainly will have me looking at it differently next time I watch it. How sad that this supposed tight knit family became so dysfunctional and broken. Still, Maria was a legend and demonstrated so much courage. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Many thanks to #netgalley #maria #michellemoran for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I literally squealed and did a happy dance when I opened my email to find out that I was given an advanced reader copy of Maria from Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group!

The Sound of Music gives me all the childhood memories: watching with my grandparents, singing songs with my sisters, and pretending to be Maria. But what I didn’t know was the true story of Maria Von Trapp and this book gave me all the details I was missing.

Spanning from Maria’s early childhood (one which was truly so sad), her desire to become a nun, meeting Georg and the children, all the way to years later demanding to speak to Hammerstein about how he got her story wrong, author Michelle Moran gives us an insight into Maria and the Von Trapps that the musical didn’t tell us about. (And the fact that it was changed doesn’t bother me- I still love it and it will remain one of my favorite things… see what I did there????)

But I’m not giving any spoilers away, but once it releases in July, this book will be worth the time to read, especially if you are a Sound of Music fan!

*This was an ARC review and all thoughts are my own. Thank you Net Galley and Random House Group Publishing.

Though my first read from author, Michelle Moran, I know that Maria won't be the last. The subject and characters were portrayed with empathy and insight.

Discrepancies revealed shocking differences between the musical/movie and actual events and characters in the von Trapp family. Learning the screenplay was written by Germans shortly after the end of the war was astounding. More surprises as well as confirmation of other details provided an engrossing and enjoyable reading adventure.

I received a complimentary copy of the book without obligation. This review is my opinion.

Maria was once a novice who hoped to live quietly as an Austrian nun before her abbey sent her away to teach a widowed baron’s sickly child. What should have been a ten-month assignment, however, unexpectedly turned into a marriage proposal, and when the family was forced to flee their home to escape the Nazis, it was Maria who instructed them on how to survive using nothing but the power of their voices.

A tale of love, loss, and the difficult choices that we are often forced to make, Maria is a powerful reminder that the truth is usually more complicated—and certainly more compelling—than the stories immortalized by Hollywood.

This was a beautiful story about the real Maria. Until I picked this up, I wasn't even aware that the movie was (loosely!) based on real people. This was a fascinating look at something much closer to reality. If you love the movie, I would highly recommend reading this book! I loved the movie as a child, and now, knowing more of Maria's story, I will always watch it through a different lens. ❤️

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

How do you solve a problem like Maria?! This question is fundamental to Michelle Moran’s fascinating new novel based on the real life of Maria Von Trapp and her family. Mostly set in the time period just before the opening of the Broadway version of The Sound of Music, Moran’s Maria seeks to set Hammerstein straight on the divergence between the events and characters featured in the musical and her real life experiences and family members, as Hammerstein and his staff seek to engage with Maria in an attempt to avoid the public relations crisis that would be spurred should Maria or her children publicly criticize what turned out to be Hammerstein’s last show.

Despite my multiple viewings of the Julie Andrews movie, my knowledge of virtually every lyric and note of every song in the movie, and having read Maria Von Trapp’s own books, I still learned many interesting and intriguing details about the von Trapp family and their lives - and found the novel utterly riveting and ultimately heartbreaking. I also loved the various fictional characters on Hammerstein’s team and their own story arcs.

Highly recommended. 4.5 stars, rounded up in recognition of Moran’s sensitive portrayal of the real woman who inspired one of the most loved and lauded characters of film and musical theater.

Many thanks to NetGalley and to Dell for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own. .

This was SO GOOD! I have always loved The Sound of Music movie. The songs felt like part of my house, as it was my moms favorite. In the movie, Maria as a character is amazing- the almost nun that ended up being wife and mother to a house full of children. After reading the book, I feel like I must go rewatch the movie and compare notes.

The downfall (in my honest opinion) is that the book made Maria a little less likeable. I’ve never realized that she was as hard on the kids as she was. That said, the reasons for this are understandable and the ending of the book (and the subsequent authors notes) are a nice way to end it.

Like so many others, I grew up with The Sound of Music. It was a very interesting book and kept my attention to the end. It’s a little sad when a mother’s goals become more important than her children’s wishes. And before I get blasted, I know that she was trying to keep the family together and earn money to pay their bills. It was well written. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

THE TRUTH BE TOLD
"The Sound of Music" was one of my favorite shows growing up, about a postulate who marries an Austrian baron. She created the Von Trapp Family singers, and as the story goes, escaped from the Nazis over the Alps. These were the Roger’s and Hammerstein and Hollywood versions.
This book then tells Maria’s version of the story. I enjoyed following María’s narrative, as it diverged considerably from the film and play and gave a lot more insight into what happened to the family. I felt sad as she regaled her personal story, her childhood, and her naivety at the world. I admired her tenacity in taking on the large family and the emotional toll it took on her. Having a very strong will and personality is not always to one’s advantage. The author gives us insight into the personalities of Georg and the other family members, and how at times she was the overbearing one.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learning the truth about the narrative behind the play and film production. I would certainly recommend it to people who are fans of “The Sound of Music.” Knowing the authentic story does not take away but enhances the experience.

As someone who loves The Sound of Music, I enjoyed every page. It had all the answers to questions I didn't realize I had. I enjoyed learning what actually happened during WWII while also being shocked by how different Maria's character in real life. This book is perfect for people who want to know the real story, but don't tend to read nonfiction. Highly recommend

I loved this book from start to finish! Of course, as a fan of Sound of Music, the topic was already interesting to me, but then to find it was about the real Maria marching to Rogers & Hammerstein’s office, demanding the upcoming Broadway musical be fixed because they didn’t get it right! And then hearing her “real” story. Really really great stuff. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun read. I loved the movie so wants sure what to expect but I enjoyed the story and the writing style. Good research on the author's part. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

I am a huge fan of Michelle Moran's work and was very thankful to be given the opportunity to read Maria. What a great book, having been to Salzburg and to the Trapp Family Lodge in Vermont, this was a fantastic read.

✨ Star Rating: 4.5⭐️

The Sound of Music is a beloved musical and motion picture. It was iconic in its time and still holds its own. But the story, while based on the life of Maria von Trapp, is not a truthful account of her life. This novel is based on the premise that when Maria’s autobiography was being adapted into a musical, just weeks away from debut, Maria herself wrote to Oscar Hammerstein to express her displeasure in the falsities of the script. His ambitious office assistant, Fran, winds up meeting with Maria to get her account and discuss her qulams with the script.

I really enjoyed this book, but there were a few things that held me back from a five star review. First, the point of view and timeline bounce around. I love a good timeline split, but I personally prefer point of view remain consistent throughout a story, at least all first person or all third person (this had both). Second, and this is not a criticism of the book its self, but I found my opinion of Maria was tainted. Her character is less of the happy, fun mother, but was more of a disciplinarian and family manager, occasionally with an ill temper. That’s not to say she didn’t bring love and music to the family, just that she was more stern and even had rifts with her family after the death of Georg. It was hard to learn that this was more of the reality than the beloved Maria on screen!

All said and done, I cried at the end of the book. And though, I wondered throughout the whole book what was true and what was fiction, the Author’s note as the final chapter was 🤌🏼 *Chefs Kiss*.🤌🏼

As someone who adores the movie The Sound of Music, and as a fan of historical fiction, I will definitely be recommending this one. Four stars overall, well done Michelle Moran. I am so grateful for the opportunty to read an Advanced Copy. Thank you to the author, Penguin Random House and Netgalley !

I’ll definitely be bringing this one up again on July 30th when it releases!

Excellent book! As a Sound of Music fan, I appreciated the story and learning more about Maria Von Trapp. I thought the book was well written and the storyline was interestingly laid out. I highly recommend this for all libraries and I think it will be a good book club pick.

"Maria" by Michelle Moran is a historical fiction novel about Maria Von Trapp of "The Sound of Music" fame. Michelle Moran wrote, "Madame Tussard", a book that I thoroughly enjoyed (5 stars), so when the opportunity to read Maria became available on NetGalley I grabbed it. I'm so happy I did.
Who doesn't love The Sound of Music? This fictional story is a dual perspective of Maria and Fran. Maria's background is revealed from her difficult childhood to her time at an abbey where she is to become a nun. Maria is sent on assignment to teach one of Captain Von Trapps daughters and the famous story begins. There are twists and turns that are different from the movie and musical as most of us know it.
Fran is a young writer working for Hammerstein during the writing of "The Sound of Music" musical. Maria shows up uninvited to Hammerstein's office hoping to make corrections to the musical script shortly before production. Fran is assigned to quickly brush Maria off and take notes of Maria's grievances rather than Hammerstein meeting Maria directly. Due to Maria's tenacious personality and ability to use her fame to her benefit, brushing her off isn't so easily done.
The novel gives the reader what we are looking for and that's more historical details into the real Maria Von Trapp and the Von Trapp Family Singers. I did not know many of the details, so it was fun to learn more. Some of it was rather bittersweet.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House and Michelle Moran for the opportunity to read the arc of this novel.

Michelle Moran's Maria tells the story of Maria von Trapp of Sound of Music fame; a dual timeline showcases the creation of the musical. I wanted to like this book more than I did. Perhaps it's because I'd already read Maria von Trapp's autobiographies, but I just felt like I didn't learn anything new about her. The book initially presents Maria as a warm-hearted woman who is playful with the children. When we meet her 25ish years later, her children and step-children describe her as difficult. This novel doesn't really explain this evolution, so it feels as though something is missing.

If a reader isn't familiar with Maria von Trapp's story outside of the well-known musical, I recommend this book. Otherwise, I'd suggest you read the autobiography.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC; all opinions are my own.