Had I not read City of Girls right before this book, I may have liked this one better. Unfortunately, however, both books are set in the theater world in NYC in post-WW II and City of Girls was far superior. This book started of well but quickly tried to take this turn and/or twist to surprise the reader but it just fell flat. By the end, I was bored and ready for it to end. Hope you have more luck than I did or just read City of Girls instead!!

The Chelsea Girls comes out later this month on July 30, 2019 and you can purchase HERE.

By renaming those who have already been named, you confirmed the politicians' view that there are subversives lurking around every corner who might be a danger to this country. You reminded everyone in the artistic community that they could be fired, have their career upended, have their lives ruined, if they don't do what you just did. You've prolonged the agony for all of us. These aren't just names, they're real people who'll be turned into pariahs because you added fuel to the fire.

"The bright lights of the theater district, the glamour and danger of 1950s New York, and the wild scene at the iconic Chelsea Hotel come together in a dazzling new novel about a twenty-year friendship that will irrevocably change two women's lives - from the national bestselling author of The Dollhouse and The Address.

From the dramatic redbrick facade to the sweeping staircase dripping with art, the Chelsea Hotel has long been New York City's creative oasis for the many artists, writers, musicians, actors, filmmakers, and poets who have called it home - a scene playwright Hazel Riley and actress Maxine Mead are determined to use to their advantage. Yet they soon discover that the greatest obstacle to putting up a show on Broadway has nothing to do with their art, and everything to do with politics. A Red scare is sweeping across America, and Senator Joseph McCarthy has started a witch hunt for Communists, with those in the entertainment industry in the crosshairs. As the pressure builds to name names, it is more than Hazel and Maxine's Broadway dreams that may suffer as they grapple with the terrible consequences, but also their livelihood, their friendship, and even their freedom.

Spanning from the 1940s to the 1960s, The Chelsea Girls deftly pulls back the curtain on the desperate political pressures of McCarthyism, the complicated bonds of female friendship, and the siren call of the uninhibited Chelsea Hotel."

To me, summer means the stifling heat of New York City, which is perhaps why I recently rewatched Rosemary's Baby and definitely why you should check out this book!

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group; Dutton and Ms. Fiona Davis for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "The Chelsea Girls"

"The Chelsea Girls" is a tour de force story taking us from the fields of World War ll USO shows to Broadway and then on to movie sets of old Hollywood.

Filled with intrigue, deceptions, half truths and scathing dark secrets these characters come alive in this fast paced novel.
Living at the famous Chelsea Hotel after the war has ended, "Hazel", ambitious and shy aspires to be a playwright, "Maxine", glamorous and outgoing, dreams of Hollywood stardom.

However, amidst the turbulent years of the McCarthy administration and campaign, their journey is a twisted tale of lies, spies and treachery that time can't heal.

Fiona Davis, bestselling and beloved author of The Masterpiece, The Address and The Dollhouse brings us her latest Historical Fiction creation that should not be missed!

#partner 🤝 #bookreview 📚

#TheChelseaGirls by Fiona Davis. Genre: Historical fiction (also fiction, mystery). Release date: July 31. 📚

Female friendships sustaining the worst of times. Through World War II, the era of McCarthyism, the Cold War & the Red Scare. And a NY hotel which brought together writers, poets & playwrights, actors & actresses, musicians, filmmakers, even refugees. The Chelsea girls spans the 1940s to the 1960s. 📚

Ms. Davis shines a spot light on the terror & impact of McCarthyism and its devastating affect on Broadway and the theater world (as it had done to films and television). 📚

Without alternating timelines, this was a bit of a departure for me from Ms. Davis's previous novels, all of which I loved, but that didn't take away from the story, and I was swept along with Hazel and Maxine. As with previous books, Ms. Davis has a true gift for fully immersing readers like myself in an era and keeping me hooked until the end. 5 of 5⭐️ 📚

#ThankYou again to #DuttonBooks and #NetGalley for the complimentary e-galley of The Chelsea Girls! 📚

Is this one on your #TBRlist yet? (synopsis in comments) 📚

#bookstagram #bookworm #booksofinstagram #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookrec #bookish #bibliophile #igreads #summerreading #whattoreadnext #thesummerofAllthehistoricalfiction #historicalfiction
#genxbookstagrammers #theeclecticspoonie 7/17/19

I love historical fiction, and Fiona Davis does not disappoint in all the aspects of a great book...history, love, WWII, excellent writing. I am so honored to be able to preview this ARC. Thank you!

Spanning from the end of WWII to the 1960s, The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis dives into the political and cultural climate of post-WWII America where friends Hazel and Maxine are determined to make their mark. They take up rooms in the legendary Chelsea Hotel, home to a variety of artistic types, where Hazel begins work on a play inspired by her and Maxine's experience on the USO tour in Naples. With Maxine in the lead role of Hazel's play, the pair seem destined to be the talk of the town, but they quickly discover the dangers of being ensnared in the country's hunt for Communists to both their professional and personal lives.

This book combined two of my favorite things: historical fiction and theater. While I've read plenty of books set during WWII, I haven't read many about the period following the war particularly dealing with McCarthyism and everything that went with that. It was fascinating to read more about what it was like for those in the entertainment industry during this time, when anything from a person's past could be brought up as evidence that they were working to spread the Communist agenda in America. The story unfolded in such a way that gave you hints as to what was to come but without fully revealing things until the proper time and this kept me invested the whole way. A great historical fiction read and I'll definitely be reading more by Fiona Davis soon!

4/5 stars

Hazel Riley, a struggling actress, doesn't like Maxine Mead, a vivacious bombshell, when she first meets her on a USO tour during the end of WWII. United after a savage act, they become friends and begin to bring out the best in each other. With the backdrop of the legendary Chelsea Hotel, Fiona Davis brings to life the frightening and devastating era of McCarthy's Red Scare to the entertainment communities and the entire country following the war. Similar to some of the current events in our country, the pervasive blanket of hate and fear sewn by McCarthy destroys lives and ruins friendships. This story helped me to see that shameful era of our country's past from the eyes of those who were tragically effected by it. Great historical fiction!

I requested early access to The Chelsea Girls: A Novel by Fiona Davis because I loved this author’s previous book, The Dollhouse. Thank you, NetGalley!

This new work of historical fiction is set in 1950’s New York. The Chelsea Hotel is a haven for artists, actors, and creative types. Hazel (an aspiring playwright) and Maxine (an aspiring actress) live there after returning from a USO tour in Italy where they entertained soldiers towards the end of WWII. While Hazel pens a play inspired by their time in Italy and Maxine (now a big star) takes the leading role, the novel moves into McCarthyism and its quest to find communist infiltration in the “arts” and the effects, immediate and longer-lasting, of these investigations.

“Screenwriters became typists to earn a buck. Brilliant actors sold shoes to make a living.”

As in The Dollhouse, I appreciated a historical peek into the lifestyles of this time, place, and group of people who lived in an actual building that is now on the national registry of historic places. I also appreciated the insight into this political movement, and the threat of communism to the U.S. during this time period both real and perceived. Themes of friendship, loyalty, and the process of creating weave throughout the political themes.

The beginning read like WWII historical fiction and I realized there is previously nothing else on my WWII list set in Italy.

I am happy to recommend this interesting and entertaining read as part of my summer reading list.

I had high hopes for this book as I greatly enjoyed the other novels by Fiona Davis, but this book fell flat for me. The time period was interesting, especially because there isn't much historical fiction set during the McCarthy Era. Unfortunately the book was overly dramatic and tragic without much character development. I was disappointed.

I love Fiona Davis. I want to be her friend, to go to brunch, to walk around history filled places in New York. I want to know her process, how she manages to capture specific and familiar locations and add such a heart to them in her writing.

The Chelsea Girls is a bit of a departure for Davis. Instead of dueling timelines and narrators, The Chelsea Girls is the story of one friendship during the 1940-1960s. Hazel and Maxine meet on a USO tour and despite their initial frosty meeting, they slowly become friends which later develops into a deeper friendship as the years go by.

Throw in the Chelsea Hotel, Broadway and the Communist witch hunt from Joseph McCarthy, and you've got a book that has history, love, loss and friendship at its core.

I can't wait to see what comes next from Fiona Davis.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Fiona Davis for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A memorable historical fiction of friendship, betrayal and pursuits of Broadway glamour. Set in the 1950's New York City, living in the bohemian Chelsea Hotel, amid the communist Red Scare overtaking America. Well developed and full of unexpected twists of events, I really enjoyed this novel! Thank you for the early reader copy. All opinions are my own.

The Chelsea Hotel in New York was always a home for artists and eccentrics. Meeting on a USO tour during World War II, Hazel and Maxine form a friendship that lasts after they return home. Maxine goes to Hollywood to try to break into the movies, while Hazel moves into the Chelsea Hotel and works on an idea for a play. Another Chelsea Hotel resident reads the play and hooks Hazel up with some of her theater connections. Maxine’s movie career has stalled, so she returns to New York and takes a room at the Chelsea. When she hears that Hazel’s play will be performed on Broadway, she is determined to star as the leading lady. Maxine secures the role, but it results in disaster as both women and many of their friends are swept up in McCarthyism, HUAC, and the communist witch hunts of the 1950s. I can’t think of another novel that addresses the activities of HUAC and the consequences for artists, actors, and others in the creative fields this well. Chelsea Girls would make a great book club book, since there is much to discuss here.

(If you don’t know what HUAC was, it was the House Un-American Activities Committee, originally formed to investigate the possibility of spies sending information to Russia, but quickly descended into a witch hunt focusing on the entertainment industry. Sort of like a precursor to Homeland Security.)

3.5/4 stars. I had the pleasure of seeing Fiona Davis speak in Minnesota shortly after The Masterpiece was released. I, just like her, am always intrigued by places and stories that may have transpired in those spaces. I hadn't had a chance to read any of her books, so I was excited to finally dive in and discover Davis as an author thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House who offered an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Chelsea Girls commences at the end of World War II. Hazel and Maxine meet while entertaining troops. Maxine is asked to lend her German translation skills to try to sway the German soldiers to the American side through radio. Hazel becomes her writer. The two quickly become friends and their lives become further entwined through The Chelsea Hotel, an artist commune in New York City. Hazel writes a play based on her war experience, Maxine becomes the lead, and the two find themselves defending their work and themselves during the Red Scare of the 1950s when several artists were accused of being communists and forced to answer to the government.

I really enjoyed The Chelsea Girls. You don't often get to read books that center around friendships between women where their relationships to men feel secondary or less important. Fiona Davis definitely puts more focus on plot and space than character development. The plot was what kept me reading, and I didn't feel emotionally invested in what happened to any of the characters. I appreciate Davis' choice to quickly shift away from World War II since I think that's a time period overused in historic fiction. While the Red Scare wasn't *new* to me when it comes to understanding history, I still found it interesting to read from the perspective of those who were being targeted. Overall, I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a fast moving plot, historic fiction, and enjoy smart, feminist reads centered around friendship instead of romance.

Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "The Chelsea Girls" by Fiona Davis, Dutton, July 2019

Kudos to Fiona Davis, Author of "The Chelsea Girls" for writing such intriguing, intense, captivating, riveting, enthralling, historical and entertaining novel. The Genres for this Novel are Historical Fiction and Fiction.  The author writes about The Chelsea Hotel and its history, and the entertainment industry. In a good portion of the novel the McCarthy era, and witch hunt for Communists is mentioned.  Fiona Davis vividly describes the architecture, landscape, and characters in her novel.  The dramatic cast of characters are described as complex and complicated. There are betrayals and danger. Friendship is one of the themes in this novel, and the timeline is approximately 20 years. 

Hazel Ripley first meets Maxine Mead in a USO tour during World War Two in Italy. The two work together to entertain the troops and then do a radio show. Up to this point, Hazel has been an understudy in the theater.  Both seem to work well together.

The Chelsea Hotel has been historically known as the hub for creativity. Writers, musicians, actors, artists, and others have been known to stay there. New York City is where the Chelsea Hotel is located. After the war, Hazel goes to The Chelsea hotel hoping to be a playwright. Hazel does write a play, and Maxine returns to become one of the actors in the play.  Unfortunately, the political times are not stable in the entertainment history.  Senator Joseph McCarthy is looking at the industry for communists. There is a book that blacklists suspected people in this industry. 

In this amazing story, there is espionage, love, betrayal, danger, and shattered dreams and hopes.  I highly recommend this intense thought-provoking novel.

After reading The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis, I had to get my hands on everything she wrote. I feel so lucky to have gotten a galley of her newest book The Chelsea Girls - it was fabulous. I loved the theater perspective and I love how much I learn when I read a Fiona Davis book.

This book is about so much more than it appears on the surface. One main character is the Chelsea Hotel where Maxine and Hazel live in NYC. The Chelsea has been a safe haven for artists of all kinds through the ages. The personalities of its residents create atmosphere for the action. Another main character, the theater, is also vitally important to the story as both a setting and for atmosphere. Maxine and Hazel are both complex, multi-faceted characters, so totally believable that the reader gets invested in their well-being very quickly. Underneath the story of two women who meet and become friends is the story of a turbulent time in America when McCarthyism and the Red Scare caused chaos among the entertainment business, especially. The story swept me up quickly and caused me to fear for Maxine and Hazel and their hopes and dreams.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I am such a fan of Fiona Davis books and this one was another really good one. I was not that familiar with this time period and it was very interesting to learn something new while meeting memorable characters that this author is so good at creating. I enjoyed the behind the behind the scenes detailed look at what living at the Chelsea Hotel during this time period was like. 4 stars for this one.

The Chelsea Girls is the first book that I’ve read by Fiona Davis but won’t be the last. This story begins in 1945 in Naples as Hazel Ridley, former Broadway understudy meets Maxine Mead, USO actress.. The two form a bond in Europe that continues after the war in New York City. Hazel, moving on from acting, writes her first play while living at The Chelsea. Maxine, returning from a failed Hollywood film career, takes on the lead role. But nothing goes right for Hazel. It’s 1950, and the McCarthy era is in full swing and on the hunt for communists on the Great White Way. Hazel and Maxine get caught up in the times, ending Hazel’s promising career but seemingly catapulting Maxine to stardom again in Hollywood. The two meet again in 1967 after the witch hunt dies, but Hazel, no longer an innocent finally sees her “friend” clearly. I enjoyed learning a little about this period of time. I can’t recall reading any other story that addresses the McCarthy era. I also love stories of female friendship. And stories that have New York City as the backdrop. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Davis.

I was provided an e-copy of this book for an honest review from the publisher. Thank you! #netgalley #thechelseagirls

Fiona Davis has done it again! Another historical fiction book with wonderful detail to time, place and characters. I have read all of her books and will continue to recommend them!

While I have read quite a bit of historical fiction, it tends to be more about WWII. I have not read anything about the McCarthy era and Russian spies.. The topic was great, and I usually really enjoy books by Fiona Davis. Unfortunately, I felt there were some lulls in the book that didn't quite keep me as engaged. However, there were some pretty good surprises thrown in that pulled right back in.

Overall, a good book with a serious topic but plenty of drama.