This is my first book by Susan Meissner and I loved it!!¡!!!!!!!!! It is an extraordinary story about love, love lost, finding yourself, finding yourself way in life, and friendships that make life great!!!!!!!!!!!

Set in 1956 Malibu, California during the Red Scare and McCarthy era, we follow three women, all from different walks of life, as they come together in the most unexpected way. Each have their own secrets and a past they may want to forget, but they are all looking for friendship and to have someone to rely on in the most trying of times.

This is a story of friendship, loss and found family. Meissner has done a great job of bringing us three women who are all strong in their own way but in very different circumstances and just proves that life brings you exactly the people you need in the moment. As secrets are revealed, I did enjoy the air of mystery woven throughout the story and while I did find the pacing a little slower than I would have preferred, I found the story overall enjoyable.

California during the Red Scare where actors and actresses were being blacklisted for supposed Communist ties was an interesting part of the story and a part of historical fiction that we don’t read much about.

I haven’t read many of Meissner’s other books but I know so many that love her work and I will definitely be picking up more of her writing!

Susan Meissner is one of my favorite authors, she never disappoints. I always learn something while reading her books, it’s obvious she put in a lot of effort into her research.
In this book, set in the 1950s, Melanie Cole is a minor starlet who finds herself on the Hollywood Blacklist due to a relationship with a man who’s also on the list. She’s unable to work, and spends her time talking with her neighbor Elwood, an agoraphobic script writer.
When his sister in law moves in, Melanie is worried. She sends her housekeeper Eva over to help and do a little snooping. Eva is a war refugee with a horrifying story of her own.
The three women eventually join together to face their individual problems and their changed post WWII society.

This book kept me reading late into the night. I highly recommend it, 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

While I've loved Meissner's two prior books (Only the Beautiful & The Nature of Fragile Things) and have another on my TBR, I have to say this was a bit of a miss for me. Although I liked reading about the HUA Commitee and its targeting of Hollywood writers, producers and actors, there was nothing really new. And although I enjoyed the three female main characters, I struggled to believe in their friendship and the plot seemed a bit over the top. Of the three, I found Eva's story the most compelling.

Set in post WWII Malibu, California, this novel follows 3 women with very different pasts who find themselves entangled in each other’s lives.

Melanie left her small midwestern town to make it big in Hollywood, only to be black listed for her unknowing association with a suspected communist. Trapped in a home with no work prospects, she only has Polish maid, Eva and her reclusive neighbor Elwood as company. But Eva is hiding her own secrets and is terrified that someone will find out her true past, possibly endangering Melanie even more.

And then there is June, Elwood’s sister-in-law and Melanie’s neighbor. When Melanie notices strange behavior from June and Elwood’s absence, she sends her maid, Eva, over to “help” (actually to snoop) and secrets are unearthed about all 3 women. As the Santa Ana winds blow and a fire approaches nearby, these 3 women find themselves rescuing each other in more ways than one.

This was not as historical as her previous novels but more about the lives and the pasts of these 3 women during the era of McCarthyism. Kind of unsettling to read this so soon after a fire destroyed the same area this winter and the recent political climate seems to be reminiscent of the McCarthy era.

Thank you to @netgalley @berkleypub for #gifting with an advanced digital copy of this novel

This book was not quite what I expected. I thought it was going to be more of a story about the communists and how it influenced Hollywood and instead it ended up being more of a mystery.

Melanie has been blacklisted because her costar was named as a communist sympathizer. As a result, no one in Hollywood will hire her. Carson, her costar, has put her up in a house in Malibu since she’s the reason she can’t get work. Her next door neighbor, Elwood, is a reclusive screenwriter. When Melanie doesn’t hear from him or see him for a few days, she starts to get concerned and sends her maid over to the house to work for Elwood’s sister-in-law to see what is really happening.

I liked the first half of the book more than I liked the second half. The first half talked about Eva, the housekeeper, and what she dealt with as someone who was living in Russian during World War 2 and was now living in America claiming she is Polish. It also discussed Melanie dealing with the reality of being an assumed communist and how it took over her life. Once the story started centering more around June, Elwood’s sister-in-law, and how she had been in love with Elwood and taken care of him, I was less invested.

I found June and her story about being in love with Elwood to be irritating. I also found how she dealt with Elwood to be frustrating. Melanie was the only one in this story who spoke any kind of sense. Eva became invested in June so quickly and projected so much of her trauma on June.

While I was curious about the mystery of whether Elwood was still in the house and if not, where was he, the way it played out was not my favorite. I sided with Melanie a lot more with some of the decisions as opposed to June and found it difficult to be cheering for June in any way.

This book straddled a weird genre of mystery and historical fiction. As a result, it didn’t feel like it filled either of them enough. The mystery was predictable and the historical portion wasn’t in depth enough for what I wanted. I enjoyed some of the characters and the time of the story, but overall this one just wasn’t for me. Meissner’s writing was still well done and enjoyable so I look forward to her next novel.

Susan Meissner has a knack of fully transporting her readers into her story. It truly is her superpower. I was fully immersed in the 1950s in the outskirts of Hollywood.

I loved the unexpected friendships from the 3 young women. They were an unlikely trio yet had an uncommon bond that was so powerful.

I also really loved the ending. There was a point towards the end that literally gave me the chills, it was that good.

A blacklisted actress with a nephew she hadn’t known she had, a displaced Russian maid, and a widow who’d buried her brother-in-law in her backyard. The three of them were unlikely companions with hardly anything in common, yet Melanie had felt an alliance between them based on the one thing they did share: their desire to recover that exquisite feeling of knowing you are right where you belong, and that you can rest there because no one is trying to take it from you. There had been a time once when all three of them knew what it was like to own a happy little corner of paradise. They’d each found it before without a map, and she had to believe they could all find it again, the same way. Because there is no map to paradise. There is only the dream that such a place exists, as does the desire to possess it, and the determination to find it again when it’s been lost.

Even the strongest of hopes were still as delicate as paper outside the confines of the heart. Choosing to do something differently if she could crawl inside a time machine still meant she'd have to wait to see if messing with the past had been worth it. And what would happen to the lessons learned from a past she'd erased? Would she get to keep them? Would she be willing to lose them if she couldn't? If she could go back…would she find herself just wishing for another time machine somewhere farther down the road? Would the rest of her life just be one constant stretch of regrets and disastrous attempts at do-overs? What was the good in that? A time machine would be a portal to hell if that's what would happen…the past had to amount to more than just the spent years of that one life each person gets. Something weightier. Maybe the past's allure wasn't that it could be changed if time machines were real but that it begged to be remembered. Maybe it was the ability to hold on to all those years—to remember where she'd been, the choices she'd made, the paths she'd chosen–that made the future something she was capable of stepping into. Maybe it was the only thing that did.

Sometimes you belong only to the moment…that one singular snippet of time owns your fate. You belong only to that moment and to nowhere else. And then sometimes the moment belongs to you. Susan Meissner’s A Map to Paradise is a masterpiece.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Old Hollywood glamour meets gripping suspense in A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner. Blacklisted actress Melanie Cole finds herself tangled in a chilling mystery when her reclusive neighbor, Elwood, suddenly vanishes—despite never leaving his house—and it’s obvious his sister-in-law, June is hiding something. As Melanie and her housekeeper, Eva, dig for answers, long-buried secrets surface, testing the fragile alliances that may be their only chance at survival.

I was instantly captivated by the stunning cover, but it was the story itself that truly stole my heart. Susan Meissner masterfully intertwines the lives of three women, crafting a tale that is both intimate and suspenseful. Set against the evocative backdrop of 1956 Malibu, the novel brings the era of McCarthyism and the Red Scare to life in a way that is both illuminating and deeply compelling.

Each woman is richly drawn, and I found myself appreciating their individual strengths and struggles. The delicate balance of historical fiction and mystery, paired with the warmth of a found family, made this novel an unforgettable read. This was my first book by Meissner, but it certainly won’t be my last.

Lisa Flanagan’s narration truly brought this story to life, capturing the distinct voices and personalities of each woman with remarkable ease. Her performance made it effortless to differentiate between the characters, adding depth and nuance to their experiences. This was an engaging listen from start to finish, and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to the author, Uplit Reads, Berkley Publishing, and PRH Audio for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great historical fiction about a time period and setting that there isn't an oversaturation of storylines. All three women had strong characters and were well-developed. The story moved along at a good pace and the setting description helped embellish the plot. A great read!

Quick and Dirty
-1950s Hollywood setting
-mystery and intrigue
-Cold War story
-unlikely friendships and alliances

Well, this was a delight! I don’t know about you, but I LOVE Classic Hollywood films and film stars. And this book read like a classic film noir screenplay, complete with a Hollywood starlet down on her luck. From the very first pages, it feels like a movie, with suspense building throughout. I loved the setting and the content, particularly the Cold War scare and the HUAC trials. For anyone who doesn’t know, the House Un-American Activities Committee was formed in the late 30s to investigate suspected communists living in America. After WWII, when the Cold War began to gather steam, HUAC really took off, targeting higher education, government officials, Hollywood executives, actors, writers, and artists. Many VERY famous Hollywood A-listers were either accused of being linked to Communism or spoke out against HUAC, which in turn threatened their careers. Some were “blacklisted,” meaning they could no longer work in Hollywood AT all! The main character of the book is one of the many whose bright star burned out as a result of an unfounded accusation, and the book does a great job painting that picture of life after being blacklisted. But it’s SO much more than that, too. It really is a great slice of life in Los Angeles, complete with wildfire representation. I really enjoyed this one and will have to do a full review on the blog to explain all the reasons why. In the meantime, know that this one is a great summertime vacation read that you won’t want to put down!!

3.5-4⭐️ 1956 Malibu, California - Paradise Circle is home to black-listed actress Melanie Cole and her friend, agoraphobic screenwriter Elwood, who lives with his sister-in-law, June, as she helps to take care of him.

Elwood is Melanie’s sole confidant, often speaking to her every day through his window. After weeks pass with no word from him, and seeing June digging in the rose bushes early one morning, Melanie and her housekeeper, Eva, become suspicious that something has happened to Elwood.

I found myself confused as to my feelings on this book. I absolutely loved Susan Meissner’s previous book, Only the Beautiful, and therefore went into this one with very high expectations. While I did enjoy it, it wasn’t quite the standout I was hoping for.

What I loved:
▪️Meissner’s focus on McCarthyism in Hollywood and the pervasive nature of it
▪️The dynamic between June, Frank, and Elwood
▪️June's wild “solution” to her predicament
▪️The deep friendship that develops between the three FMCs
▪️The fast-paced writing style that is very unique for historical fiction
▪️Melanie’s struggle to overcome her blacklist status

What I didn’t love as much:
▪️Eva’s POV, particularly in the past, felt less engaging to me, and I found my focus drifting
▪️Pacing in the second half of the book
▪️The ending felt as though it was wrapped up in a tidy bow

🎧 As is always the case for me with historical fiction, the audiobook takes it to another level. Lisa Flanagan so brilliantly captures the time period with her narration of this wide cast of characters and the Soviet threat that encapsulated the era.

All in all, this is a solid historical fiction read about a time in history that’s not as often written about. If you are looking for a HF novel that is centered around Hollywood, features female friendship, a little bit of mystery, and fast paced writing, check this one out, especially on audio.

Thank you Berkley Pub and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.

I was really excited to read this book, and while it didn't fully capture my attention in the way I had hoped, it was still an interesting and well-written read. The author presents a vivid and honest portrayal of the lives of women in the 1950s, shedding light on their struggles, hopes, and heartbreaks in a time of societal pressure and limited opportunities. It’s a poignant exploration of the challenges women faced, and the way these experiences are depicted is both compelling and heartbreaking.

The narrative brought me closer to understanding how the expectations of the era affected their lives, and though I may not have been as invested as I wanted to be, the themes of the book stayed with me. It’s a beautiful, thought-provoking piece that captures a significant moment in history, making it well worth reading.

A MAP TO PARADISE by Susan Meissner

Thank you @berkleypub & @prhaudio for my #gifted copies. 💓 #berkleyig #berkleypartner

Susan Meissner is one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Her books Only the Beautiful, A Fall of Marigolds, and The Nature of Fragile Things are among my very favorite hist fic books. So when I saw she had a new book coming out, I jumped at the chance to read it!

A Map to Paradise takes place in Malibu, California during the "Red Scare" of the early 1950s. Here, Meissner weaves together the stories of three women: Melanie, a Hollywood starlet who's been blacklisted for Communist ties; Eva, a European iimmigrant housekeeper with a dark and tragic past; and June, Melanie's neighbor, who cares for her agoraphobic brother-in-law while harboring more than one secret.

This is my first historical fiction novel about the "Red Scare" and I was utterly transfixed! Meissner has a way of transporting the reader to the time and place of her novels, and creating such authentic, three-dimensional characters. The story grabbed hold and didn't let me go until the very last page. Ultimately, A Map to Paradise is an engaging and moving story of friendship, camaraderie, and resilient women.

🎧 Per usual, I read this by alternating between my print copy and the audiobook, which was the best of both worlds. Lisa Flanagan's narration is top notch!! She flawlessly alternates between the three MCs and their varying voices/accents. I was never lost or confused about whose chapter I was reading.

I highly recommend A Map to Paradise in whatever format you prefer. 💕

4.5 rounded up!

It's 1956, the war is over and American politicians are working to publicize the names of people who are thought to be members of the Communist party. The Hollywood blacklist was a list of people in the entertainment industry that were ineligible for employment because of their suspected ties to the communist party. A Map to Paradise looks at three women who are struggling to find happiness in their lives despite all that is going on in the world.

Melanie is an actress who had a major role in a hit movie. Her name is on the black list because her co-star in the movie is suspected of being a Communist. They acted like a couple in love to help publicize the movie so she is also a suspect. To keep her safe, her boyfriend makes arrangements for her to live in a house in Malibu, far away from reporters. Melanie wants to go back to acting and doesn't understand why she is unable to work in Hollywood. The only people that she talks to are her cleaning lady, Eva who is an immigrant from war-town Europe and her neighbor Elwood who is a script writer with agoraphobia and lives with his sister in law next door. Early one morning she sees Elwood's sister in law, Jane, digging in his rosebushes. After that she's unable to get him to the phone and she becomes suspicious of Jane. She sends Eva next door to help with the cleaning but wants Eva to find out what's happened to Elwood. Eva wants to keep a low profile because she lied on her entry forms to the US and is fearful of being sent back to Europe.

All three of these women are hiding secrets from the world. In the beginning, they aren't friends - they are individually doing what they can to survive in their worlds. As several secrets come to light, their friendship begins to grow. But can they really trust each other or are they only setting themselves up for trouble?

I really enjoyed this book. All three women were very strong in their own way. Even Melanie who was the most naive grows as she becomes involved with the other two women. This book is full of suspense - a fire in Malibu, a possible dead body and the black list in Hollywood all add to the story and make it an interesting look at America in the 1950s. I really liked all three female characters but my favorite was Eva who had been through so much in her life and had the most to lose if her secret was revealed.

Be sure to read the Author's Notes at the end of the book to find out more about the author's research into the beginnings of the Cold War and the blacklisting of the early 50s. This was another great book by Susan Meissner.

The author’s books always make me think. It was a little eerie how as I read this I could see a little bit of a parallel to the world today. And it made me a little sad that we haven’t learned from history.

Melanie, Eva, and June’s stories are all unique and powerful and at times surprising. I loved how their connections led to friendship and that they had more in common than they thought. It really showcased how women can persevere while holding up the women around them. It’s a perfect read for women’s history month.

The more I read, the more the characters grew on me. Their backstory slowly came out and it really affected what I thought of them. I admired their resiliency and their courage to keep moving forward.

Lisa Flanagan did a good job of bringing these three unique women to life. She allowed each one to shine in their own way.

I enjoyed this one from start to finish.

1. This cover is incredible.

2. The story was a little slow until it wasn’t. Then it got crazy really fast! I loved all of the jumping back and forth in time for all of the characters.

3. The character development was phenomenal as per usual with Susan Meissner. Her descriptions were also so incredible I feel like I was there with the characters.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. I was so honored to be chosen. All thoughts are my own.

Beautiful and bittersweet tale of the enduring power and resilience of female friendship. I loved learning about the Red Scare and I found the Hollywood setting super interesting and immersive.

I know I can always count on Susan Meissner for enjoyable historical fiction about an event that's underrepresented in novels.

And A Map to Paradise (thank you #gifted @uplitreads @berkley ) is just that.

Three women: Melanie, a blacklisted actress; Eva, an immigrant from war-torn Europe; and June, the sister-in-law turned caretaker for a reclusive writer, cross paths in 1950s Malibu.

Some have secrets. Some are afraid of events from their past. But they're all looking for friendship and a little corner of paradise to call their own.

I loved the connections they formed, the questions about being a displaced person, and what it means to belong. It was not as obvious to me as it should have been how all these women are fearful of losing their home- or have already lost it- even though they come from very different circumstances.

I thought Melanie's chapters dragged a bit though (at least until a life changing event occurs in the middle).

But it was still a pleasant escape to Hollywood, full of strong female friendships and self-discovery.

This is my third book by Susan Meissner and I gotta say, I loved them all. An amazing story taking place in Malibu California, 1956. During the Red Scare, when McCarthyism is in full swing. Three strong women come together to support each other. Melanie, an actress that's been blacklisted. Eva, Melanie's maid, who's a Polish immigrant. And June, who is Melanie's neighbor's caretaker. I really enjoyed all of these characters. It's a slow burn, but one you can get completely invested in. I always enjoy books about female friendships and found family. I was pulled in right from the beginning and flew through it.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.