A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner
.
Three ladies who live and work on Paradise Circle form a friendship that will go on to span years.
.
Melanie Cole is a young actress who’s only mistake was seen dating the wrong guy. Now she is blacklisted in Hollywood as a supposed “Communist Sympathizer”. She is living next door to a screenwriter and his sister-in-law, June. June just spent the wee hours of the morning digging up the rose bushes in the back yard, but why?
And then there is Eva who has been hired to clean house for Melanie. Eva is Polish…or is she?
.
I loved all the secrets and trying to figure out these characters. What were they hiding, and why? Slowly reading their back stories had me drawing closer to each of them. These women each had hearts of gold and were really there for each other through the test of fires (in this book literally 🔥).
.
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What an interesting story. I loved that this was a time and subject that I haven’t seen a lot of books write about.

A Map to Paradise follows Melanie Cole, a budding Hollywood actress, who is blacklisted from the studios for being accused of having communist ties. As a result, she is living in hiding in a rented house in Malibu. While there she gets to know her neighbor who is a reclusive screenwriter.

This book has an interesting premise and one that is not my normal reading material. It was a slow start for me and I thought some parts of the story dragged while others at the end were rushed. I think this would make an interesting book club read with its themes of friendship, found family, and of course the communism threat.

This book was so slow paced, and boring. It could just be that life has me in a slump, but this book and its dull, flat characters and zero intrigue depressed me even further. DNF at 48%.

Susan Meissner has done it again--she has written a historical fiction novel that links fascinating characters and well-known history to little-known historical events in her own unique way.

I will admit that at first I was frustrated a bit with our main character, Melanie. She seemed trapped in that spoiled-little-girl persona, only doing what the men in her life told her to do. Thankfully, she figures some things out and helps her friends, June and Eva.

I don't want to spoil the story, because the journey really is worth it--even if it did take me a bit longer to get invested in the story. Garden digging? I've watched enough mysteries to know what that means. It's Ava's backstory that is the most fascinating piece in the puzzle.

I will say that Susan Meissner has some sort of sixth sense with plot devices. She wrote about the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic in her novel "As Bright as Heaven" that was published two years before the COVID-19 pandemic. For those who live in Southern California, be aware that there is mention of wildfires; nothing new, of course, but oddly timely considering the ones in January.

Overall, another great novel. Highly recommend.

Susan Meissner is an auto-buy author for me as they never disappoint. This one, A Map to Paradise, was a strong story about the power of women's friendships no matter how different the woman are. Different ages, ethnicities and backgrounds made for a well told story. Much about the Santa Ana winds and unpredictability of CA forest fires were a strong theme in the book and it seemed eerily timely after what just happened in LA. Great story!

Absolutely amazing!

Three women, all in different stages of life, are intertwined in this Historical Fiction novel that takes place in the 1950's McCarthy era. Eva, a German-Russian maid, with lots of secrets of her own works for blacklisted actress Melanie. Melanie is convinced something is amiss at her neighbor's home when he hasn't been seen in weeks. June, her neighbors sister in law, continuously makes excuses for her reclusive brother in law, but Melanie isnt convinced.

These women, all with their own secrets, must work together to help each other in this tumultous time that isn't particulary friendly to women.

“Living in truth, even if it is difficult, had to be better than living in fear.”

This is my first Susan Meissner book and it was quite enjoyable. The author's writing style plays out like a movie and the three women - Melanie, Eva, and June - were unique and memorable. I didn't know much about the fire of 1956 that swept through southern California and The Cold War era in Hollywood so it was interesting to be immersed in this time period. I didn't love Melanie; she was too self-absorbed until about halfway through the book. She did a lot of growing up and maturing from that point on and proved herself to be loyal and steadfast. Eva had a lot of hurt and grief which came out in bits and pieces throughout the book; her history was a bit dark and complex, which was a given for a displaced person during WWII. June had some surprising twists and turns in her part of the tale and I enjoyed the friendship that she and Eva formed relatively quickly. One after another, their secrets were revealed but these tragic secrets ended up bringing the women together. All three women had to face their fears and overcome them to move forward, past the things that held them stagnant at a standstill. It is a general fiction book without any faith thread and did contain a tiny bit of swearing.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Berkley Publishing via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

What I liked:
Women supporting women
Unique period in time I haven’t read much about
The ending was sweet, but….

I what I didn’t like:
I expect a more riveting plot and compelling characters from Meissner
The Nature of Fragile Things set the bar high for me with her books and this one did not live up
While I liked each of the ladies, I felt like there was too much backstory pushed into each which took away from the plot depth and pace in the present
While the ending was satisfying, it felt a little too perfect

A Map to Paradise is truly a story of female resilience.

Susan Meissner has brought us three women who are all strong in their own way but in very different circumstances. This is a story of friendship, grief, and a little bit of mystery. It's funny sometimes how life brings you exactly the people you need and this is exactly what happens in A Map to Paradise. Melanie, Eva, and June played perfectly off of each other and I loved the way they all grew.

California during the Red Scare was also a very interesting time period for the story to take place. It's not often explored in historical fiction and I only wish that there was a few more details of the issues at the time. Our characters, being in Malibu, seemed a little displaced from the action.

I truly enjoyed this book, the author covers a time in history that I haven’t read much about! It’s the. 1950’s when McCarthyism was happening . During “The Red Scare” McCarthy was convinced that communists had infiltrated our government, the Army and even the entertainment industry that included Hollywood’s screenwriters and actors. We meet three main characters whose lives cross each other and forever change.

Melanie- has finally gotten her big break in Hollywood she left her small roots back in Omaha and she’s suddenly blacklisted when she was seen in the company of “suspected” communists. Not able to find any work she’s staying at a rented home in Malibu so I hide from the paparazzi.

June - is Melanie’s next door neighbor in Malibu, after the death of her husband she is caring for her brother-in-law Elwood, an accomplished screenwriter he suffers from agoraphobia after a horrible car accident.

Eva - is a young Polish immigrant she is hired as Melanie’s housekeeper and cook. She’s hiding many secrets one is in which she hoped to leave behind when she started her in new life in the US.

The story takes off when When Melanie and Eva find Elwood's sister in law June digging in the garden before dawn one morning, the two become suspicious and concerned for Elwood's wellbeing. Is Elwood sinking deeper into agoraphobia, or did something nefarious happen? As they try to find out if something has happened to him, unexpected secrets are revealed among all three women, leading to an alliance that seems the only way for any of them to hold on to what they can still call their own. But it’s a fragile pact and one little spark could send it all up in smoke…

I loved everything about “A Map to Paradise” by Susan Meissner. I am a huge fan, and I highly recommend this memorable, emotional and thought-provoking novel to others. The Genres for this novel are Historical Fiction, Mystery,Suspense, Thriller, Adult Fiction, Friendship Fiction, and 20th Century Historical Fiction. The timeline for this story is set in 1956, and the setting is in Malibu California. This is the time of the Hollywood blacklist. In this well written novel, the author vividly captures the beautiful scenery, and describes her colorful, suspenseful and dramatic characters. The three women characters that reside on Paradise Circle in California are Melanie Cole, a blacklisted actress, the housekeeper Eva, who is harboring secrets, and the neighbor June, who is the sister in law of an agoraphobic writer.

Melanie and Eva notice that June is working in her brother-in-law’s garden with beautiful rose bushes. Although he doesn’t leave the house, he often will talk through the window to Melanie. When Melanie hasn’t spoken to June’s brother, she wonders where he is. Somehow, the unlikely trio of women seem to be connected by mystery and suspense.

I appreciate how Susan Meissner discusses the historical implications of the Hollywood blacklist, mental illness, displaced persons after the war, the importance of friendship, communication, honesty, trust, love and hope. I highly recommend this captivating and intriguing novel.

Malibu, California 1956

Page turner!

Three strong female characters. All with insecurities and a search for belonging. Melanie is a Hollywood actress that has been blacklisted for her ties to a suspected Communist. Melanie's housekeeper Eva is a displaced person from Europe. Widow June is caretaker for her screenwriting brother-in-law that won't leave his house.

Melanie and June are neighbors with a tepid relationship. Meissner expertly reveals bits of their pasts while also delivering a compelling 1956 storyline. Events unfold and soon it each of their lives are spirally out of control.

Highly recommend this historical novel featuring heroines from different historical events. There is a small amount of foul language.

A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner is a captivating exploration of the consequences of impulsive decisions, the significance of redemption, and the transformative nature of discovering one's sense of belonging. This compelling novel kept me engrossed from beginning to end.

An outstanding historical fiction novel about three women overcoming their own tragedies with the strength of their friendship. The character development is superb and really helped me connect to these women. It’s a “quiet” book - I was slowly drawn in and had to keep reading because I felt like I really knew the characters. It would make an excellent book club pick and discussion!

This is a new to me author and I’ll be sure to keep my eyes open for future work, as well as catch up on the backlog!

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read!

Oh how excited I was to get this one. I have come to love the authors writing and her way of sucking me into the storyline. I still think of “only the beautiful” and it’s been over a year since i read it.

This one was about 3 women and their secrets that take the story into a mystery and family story. It’s an interesting premise and I normally love an old Hollywood type story. Unfortunately this ended up just being a “like” instead of a “love”.

It was just missing a little something for me. The storyline had great promise but felt a bit flat.

I do appreciate the gifted copy because I still do love her books

A Map to Paradise was a pretty great read... some suspense, some drama, a little bit of mystery, and some great female bonding.
The ending left me with all the feels, I love how the storylines were wrapped up.
It's the 1950's and young up-and-coming starlett Melanie Cole has found herself on Hollywood's blacklist, due to her association with another actor. While she's hiding out in Malibu, she befriends Elwood, the screenwriter who lives next store. Then Elwood seems to be gone, and Melanie is curious, and concerned. She gets her maid involved, trying to get in the house next door to find out if Elwood is ok. The maid, Eva, bonds with Elwood's sister-in-law who is his caretaker; then Melanie comes in and the three form a great friendship.
Sure, you will wonder, for awhile, what happened to Elwood, and that's what originally drew me to the story, but I stayed for the great friendship these women built together. Their bond was palpable. I loved it. Easily a 4 star for me because of that.

I really enjoyed this story. It’s understated and quietly impressive. It’s not heavy on plot, it’s more about the lives of the three women at the center of the story, explored through an interesting and mysterious situation that unfolds.

I was very impressed with Susan Meissner’s writing. It has a simple and quiet beauty to it that I loved. And her ability to hold my interest through this slower paced story is commendable. This was the first book I’ve read by Meissner, but I will definitely be reading more in the future.

If you like historical fiction set in the 1950’s, character lead stories, and books that explore female friendships you should definitely give this book a try 😊💛

A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner is a very good standalone novel. The story begins in Paradise Circle in Malibu, in the 1950’s. Melanie Cole is a young starlet, who because of her actor boyfriend has been suspected to be communist, and blacklisted; with Melanie also is on the radar of the McCarthy hunt. Carson, the actor, sets her up in a house, all expenses paid, including a maid. Melanie is lonely, and she chats through open windows with her next-door neighbor, Elwood; who is a famous screen writer.

Eva, the maid, comes 6 times a week, and is a Polish immigrant, who also has her own secrets. Eva not only is the housekeeper, but she also cooks. Eva plans to stay working for Melanie, since she keeps her secret immigration past.

June is Elwood’s sister-in-law, and one day both Melanie and Eva spot June, digging in Elwood’s beloved rose garden. Melanie finds this odd, as Elwood never leaves the house, and they both become suspicious and concerned for Elwood's wellbeing. Since she has no contact anymore with Elwood, Melanie gets Eva to spend half her workday with June, helping doing housework; in order to find what’s happening with Elwood. Eva cannot find anything, without her trying to look into his room. But soon, June becomes an ally to Eva, sharing their secrets. Melanie tries to get more information pertaining to Elwood, she suspects that something has happened to him.

We do learn that Elwood, was in an accident years ago, causing someone’s death, which caused his life to change. As Elwood got older, he suffered from severe illness; with June being the one who typed and changed all of his writing. Melanie will discover that Elwood was dead, but she will learn that he committed suicide.

Unexpected secrets are revealed for each of the three women, which will eventually lead into an alliance, and the start of a friendship. Each of the three women have different life experiences; Melanie being an actress, Eva, the polish maid who hides her immigration secrets, and June, who became a successful screen writer.

A Map to Paradise was a wonderful story of friendship, secrets, resilience, trauma, tension and death. It was heartwarming to see the friendship grow between Eva, Melanie, and June. A Map to Paradise was a terrific page turner, that was very well written by Susan Meissner.

I have been reading Susan Meissner's books for a long time. She focuses on a variety of themes and I have enjoyed them all. It’s been interesting to watch her writing style evolve and character development perfected. In my mind, each book is better than the last one read.

A Map to Paradise is multi-layered and a little convoluted. In the beginning, as the storyline is being set up, it is a little slow. Then, it takes off. It takes place in the 1950s, one of my favourite eras.

The three main characters are women. Eva is an immigrant Displaced Person from Eastern Europe, Melanie is a budding actress with a successful movie under her belt and June is the sister-in-law of a successful screenwriter. As different as they seem at the outset, they become bonded friends as they help each other.

There are many interesting components to the plot. There is McCarthyism and the black listing of many top Hollywood names, agoraphobia, family strife, SECRETS (always necessary, in my mind), wildfires of Malibu, dead bodies and much more. It seems like a lot but evolves naturally.

The story has a Hollywood ending, as is befitting the storyline. There were a few happy surprises for this reader.

I appreciated the Author's Notes at the end. Kudos to Ms Meissner for the research she did to make the historical aspects of the story genuine. And, I love her description of the different but same meanings of Home to each of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner is an incredible work of historical fiction that I absolutely LOVED. This book gave me all the feels, in the best way possible.

The story is set in the 1950's. The author writes about McCarthyism during the Red Scare. I did enjoy the setting of Malibu, I felt as if I was right there and how different it was during this time period.

The three characters, Melanie, Eva and June are all excellent characters. This is a beautiful character driven story. The three women are connected in an unexpected way.

Melanie is a young actress that has been blacklisted by Hollywood because it is suspected that she was seen with a "suspected" communist. She is hiding out in a home in Malibu.
Eva is an immigrant who is Melanie's housekeeper. Lastly, June is Melanie's neighbor.

I absolutely LOVED learning about these three different women and what their lives are like during this time in the 1950's.

What a story, well written. A story of strength, courage, friendship and the ties that bind women together, no matter how different their lives may be.

Highly recommend!