I did not finish this book. I just found the story boring and I could not connect with it. I read about 30% and the parts that I did read I felt like nothing happened.

3.5 stars
Recommend

This was a unique historical fiction novel with few characters in an underwritten time in U.S. History during the "red scare" and Hollywood blacklisting.

The three main characters are a Blacklisted Hollywood actress, the caretaker sister-in-law of a famous Hollywood screenwriter, and a displaced person due to WWII who works as a housekeeper. The three women seemingly help each other when a tangled web of lies begins to untangle. I don't think the reactions of the three women to plot twists or even their friendship are realistic.

This was an entertaining book, but not one that will stay with me.

TRIGGER WARNING: Fire, death, mental health issues, Hollywood blacklisting, war references with violence, domestic violence

Goodreads: - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215062082-a-map-to-paradise - posted 2/2/2025

Storygraph: - https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/1a022e39-5ea8-45cb-8e27-b5af38379055?redirect=true - posted 2/2/2025

Books by Dorothea blog: - https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/02/review-map-to-paradise-earcebook.html - posted 2/2/2025

This book grew on me. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. Three women MCs are completely unlike each other in both origin and experience. Each woman has secrets. As they learn to trust each other and their secrets are revealed, the women grow closer and become more likeable. The 1950s Malibu setting, including the Hollywood blacklist, made me want to search for pictures of Malibu at the time. I will definitely be suggesting this book to everyone I know who likes historical fiction and mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I love Susan Meissner’s writing style and she has a great way of creating compelling characters. I really enjoyed the character growth of all three women in this book! Each of them had their own secrets and I loved learning about their complicated pasts. Set in the 1950’s, it was fascinating to read about this era, especially with the focus on blacklisted Hollywood stars during the Cold War.

The plot was intriguing and I was immediately drawn into the story because of the mystery surrounding Elwood’s sudden disappearance. However, with very little suspense and a slower pace, the story ended up being really predictable. While I enjoyed certain aspects of this book, I didn’t feel the same emotional connection I’ve felt with Susan Meissner’s previous works.

If you’re looking for a historical fiction set in beautiful Malibu and filled with surprising secrets and unlikely friendships, you may enjoy this more than I did!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an electronic ARC of this book!

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Random House Publishing for an early copy of A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner

Paradise: an ideal or idyllic place or state

The time is 1956 and the place is Paradise Circle in Malibu, California. Three women, Melanie, Eva and June, will make the most of circumstances beyond their control and each will ultimately become the best version of themselves.

Hollywood starlet Melanie Cole is living in fear as the Washington House on Unamerican Activities Committee is relentlessly interviewing Hollywood's biggest names and requiring them to turn in those suspected of communist ties. While renting a house paid for by her male costar, she befriends a neighbor, Elwood, working as a scriptwriter. Elwood has serious depression issues following a car accident he is responsible for which has killed a woman he loves and left her two young sons orphans. Elwood's sister-in-law, June, is in the home caring for him. Eva Kauss is the housekeeper working between both homes, a Displaced Person of the ravages of World War II.

Suspicion arises when Elwood disappears, and a narrative is eventually developed and carried through. leaving all three women on edge that their "crime" will be discovered. But have they committed a crime?

A Map to Paradise is a masterful tale of historical fiction, suspense and redemption. It also speaks to the coincidences in life that bring such diverse people together and the lengths one will travel to realize one's dreams.

Welcome to the time of the Red Scare in America. A time when Americans were scared of communism. Most believed that Hollywood had been infiltrated with those who were communists. Malibu when it was quiet and idyllic for the rich Hollywood elite.

Three women with three very different backgrounds have been thrown together by circumstance. Each one is struggling with inner turmoil and decisions on their quest to find their own inner paradise. The characters of Eva, June, and Melanie were so well thought out and put together and as the novel gets going you truly feel the emotion the author is trying to convey of the time period.

This is a wonderfully researched book and such a wonderful read. I will be looking for many of Mrs. Meissner's books to come!

Thank for you for giving me an ARC of this title. I love Susan Meissner's books. The first chapter always grabs me. I don't know much about this time period and the Hollywood stars that were being blacklisted, so it was very informative but very interesting to keep me hooked! I really enjoy the story!

Centered on a rising starlet, Melanie Cole, who due to associations finds herself on the Hollywood blacklist. Supported by her former leading man, she finds herself living in a Malibu cul de sac hiding out from the press and hoping things will blow over so she can reclaim her career. Next door, a reclusive agoraphobic screenwriter (Elwood), and on weekdays a hired maid (Eva) who was displaced by WWII, become her only companions as she navigates her lonely world. As she loses contact with Elwood except through his sister-in-law/caregiver, she begins to suspect something bigger than his anxiety is afoot and recruits Eva into seeking more information by helping the neighbors with their home as well. I becomes convoluted with who-knows-what-about-whom and what secrets all three women are keeping, but soon leads them to close relationships as developments overtake them and loyalties are stretched. Well paced and interesting, the character development and unwinding plot drive the reader toward a satisfying conclusion.

Set during the McCarthy era, we meet three women.

Melanie has been blacklisted because she was seen with a producer that they think is a communist.

Eva is a Polish housekeeper for Melanie.

June lives next door to Melanie and is taking care of her brother-in-law who won’t come out of his house because of an accident he caused a while ago.

The odd thing is that June won’t let anybody see Elwood, and it’s a puzzle where an agoraphobic person would go.

Elwood must be there, though, because Melanie hears a typewriter clicking.

How will these women - all with secrets - become connected?

A MAP TO PARADISE started out slowly for me, but once the background information of each character was revealed and their predicaments were revealed, I enjoyed a thoughtful, well-researched read. 4/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The author is a fav histfic writer whose immersive novels always captivate me. That was the case with her latest, blending the lives of three intriguing women during the Red Scare in 1950s Malibu. Each has secrets she dares not reveal, which kept me glued to the pages as I raced nonstop to the end. Highly recommended!

A Map to Paradise begins at a gentle pace, gradually unraveling the interconnected histories of three women whose paths ultimately converge in unexpected ways. As the narrative shifts back and forth, it peels back layers of their pasts, slowly revealing the events that bind them together.

Once the story gains momentum, it becomes a thrilling ride, much like a roller coaster: the tension builds to a peak and doesn't let up. This book had me turning pages late into the night—a rare feat these days—and I can honestly say I wasn't disappointed.

The author masterfully balances the personal and the historical, drawing you into a world full of both intimate emotion and sweeping events. The deeper you go, the more you’re pulled in, and by the time you reach the climax, you’ll find yourself fully invested in the journey of these complex women. If you’re looking for a powerful, emotional story that stays with you long after the final page, A Map to Paradise should be added to your TBR.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Susan Meissner is an accomplished storyteller whose latest novel “A Map To Paradise” will be available March 18, 2025. For those of us who have loved Meissner’s historical fiction books, I promise you will not be disappointed as you find yourself immersed in the lives of three women in 1956 in Malibu, California. These women with vastly different life experiences become friends despite seemingly nothing in common. Brought together by happenstance and impacted by earlier choices they made in their lives, Meissner weaves a compelling story against the backdrop of WWII displaced person survival and the Hollywood blacklist during the Red Scare. A definite page turner as the secrets and tension grow into a very satisfying ending. I want to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Not my favorite Meissner book. A little too disjointed and improbable for me. Her writing is fantastic even if I didn't love the plot. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC--all opinions are my own.

Those who like slow-paced, character-driven stories with a light side of intrigue, "A Map to Paradise" is for you. Acclaimed author Susan Meissner is back, this time with a historical fiction novel centered around the communist Red Scare in Hollywood during the 1950s.

Actress Melanie Cole is a rising star in Hollywood when she suddenly finds herself unfairly accused of being a communist sympathizer. She's immediately placed on the Hollywood black list, with no movie studio willing to risk hiring her. Sequestered away from the public eye, Melanie's only company during the day is her hired domestic helper Eva, and her agoraphoric neighbor Elwood. When Melanie and Eva find Elwood's sister 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?

I found this novel entertaining, though it was not as emotionally charged as many of Meissner's other works. While it was still engaging, this particular slice of history just felt a little flatter than some of the others she has tackled in the past. The dialogue felt a bit forced to me at times, like maybe Meissner was trying just a little too hard to craft a quotable line. All of the other books I've read of hers have been 4- or 5-star reads for me, so this surprised me a bit. While this won't go down as my favorite Meissner work, I still enjoy this author and will eagerly await her next book.

Read this if you love:
• stories of female friendship
• themes of belonging and found family
• second-chance stories
• light intrigue
• sentimental reads and/or The Hallmark Channel

3.5 stars rounded down

This well researched historical fiction novel takes place in the 50’s during the Red Scare in Hollywood. The notorious inflated blacklist that named hundreds of having ties to communism put entertainment industry folks out of work. We meet out-of-work starlet Melanie and her mysterious neighbors who have secrets to protect. Not my favorite Meissner title to date, but kept me engaged. I particularly enjoyed the mystery aspect of this one.

If you enjoy stories about old Hollywood, women helping women, or historical fiction with a mystery twist, you’ll enjoy this new one by Meissner.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blacklisted from Hollywood in the Cold War climate and suspected of consorting with Communists, Melanie has little company anymore aside from her neighbor, Elwood. Given Elwood is agoraphobic and doesn’t leave the house, Melanie finds cause for concern when she suddenly can’t find him. Because of this, Melanie forges an unexpected friendship with June, Elwood’s sister-in-law, and also Eva, a maid and immigrant with secrets of her own.

I enjoyed the time and setting of this book as the novels I typically read involving Hollywood are set in the Golden Age. It was a complex era for not only Hollywood but also America. The plot itself was intriguing, too, albeit I struggled with the plausibility of it.

It felt like this book was trying to explore a lot of different areas which made it a bit hectic, but it thankfully was written in a way where the reader isn’t yanked back and forth between it all. What, unfortunately, hindered my enjoyment the most is the political tension which is to be expected, of course. Had I realized (and I should have) from the synopsis, I likely would have passed on this one as much as I enjoy Susan Meissner’s writing. Absolutely a personal thing and not the fault of the book!

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for providing a free digital ARC of the book!

Susan Meissner is a short-list of authors that I read everything from. As soon as a new one pops up, I am requesting an ARC to both do a review, see if it will be a good pick for the book club I run, and of course for my own enjoyment. Up to this point, nearly all of Meissner books have been a 4 or 5 star read. I liked this one, it just didn't have the same punch that her others have had for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for this advance reader copy - and all of the opinions here are my own.
Set in California during the Red Scare, we meet three women with their own secrets and struggles and learn how they intersect over the mystery surrounding one man. The blacklisted starlet, hiding away hoping her troubles will fade away, is obsessed with her neighbor and how she hasn't seen him in too-long. An immigrant who lost everything in the war and is in the US hiding as a Polish Immigrant and maid, cleans and cares for two home but becomes involved in strange ways when she learns too much. A female screenwriter desperate to break in makes a grim decision that echoes in everything to follow. These three women battle their past and try to manipulate their futures.
Why 3* - I liked it but didn't love it. It was a little tedious, a little 'yeah, right', and not quite as compelling as previous reads. There is so much history there that could have been expanded upon. This was the McCarthy era where communism was feared as un-American. This is Hollywood in it's golden era. There is also all that happened to the ethnic Germans in Russia. Its all touched upon, some a bit more than others, but the opportunity to take a deep dive into the Red Scare was watered down because of all of the backstories. The story slowed every time we went back.
Like I said, a like, not a love. I still would recommend it, but not sure this is one I would happily read twice.

*will post on Instagram closer to pub date* MAP TO PARADISE by Susan Meissner ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Susan is one of my favorite authors, and she has done it again! This book is full of friendship, love, loss, and a strong dose of mystery! My favorite part about this book was the back stories of these incredibly different women, and the bonds they ended up forming. The time period and setting of this book was also so fun! Malibu in the 50’s… I need more of this! I felt like it was a bit slow moving at first, which is the only reason I gave it 4 stars. It definitely picked up in the end!

This story follows three very different women who become unlikely friends. Melanie is a recently successful actress who has been blacklisted for interacting with suspected communists. June is Melanie’s neighbor and is caring for her brother in law, Elwood. And Eva is Melanie’s housekeeper and a polish immigrant who has many secrets she hoped to bury. Once all involved in the same secret, they forge a bond and stick together.

Pub. Date: 3/17/2025.

Perfect if you like:
•Unlikely friends.
•50’s Malibu.
•Multiple POV.
•Strong female characters.
•Historical fiction.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Mood: 🍿🍷

I was given an ARC of this book for a review.

In this offering from Ms. Meissner (coming out in March 2025) we are in Malibu, Californis in 1956. Three displaced women come together and develop a friendship though they have very different lives.

Melanie Cole is a blacklisted actress in hiding in Malibu. Next door lives June and her screenwriter brother-in-law Elwood. Melanie has become friends with Elwood (a recluse who never leaves his house except to sit outside or tend to his roses). She looks to Elwood for advice about her career. Sudden Elwood never appears outside and won't answer her calls. Melanie begins to worry about what might be wrong and sends her cleaning lady Eva (an immigrant from war-torn Europe herself) over to help out at the neighboring house. Melanie instructs Eva to find a way to check up on Elwood. Pick up a copy of this entertaining book to find out how the ladies ultimately become friends and what happened to Elwood.

I have mixed feelings about the book as a whole. A Map to Paradise follows three different women and their stories. The three different stories felt so different from each other and I found myself wanting to hear more from one story over the others. In the end, I could see how the three stories partially connected, but it left me feeling lopsided most of the way through. I really didn't like how sin/wrongdoing was justified as ok for one of the characters and she ended up getting away with her lying and sin. Furthermore, this character was even rewarded with a happy filled end of life story. That was really the biggest issue I had. The story would have been a higher rating from me if the language (from speech) could have been taken out, and that instead of the character getting away with her sin/wrongdoing, maybe leaning more into trust and hope for what is right to play out instead of taking matters into her own hands and getting away and even getting rewarded for it. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Susan Meissner has some wonderful books that I thoroughly enjoyed, do go check out her work!