Once again, Fiona Davis takes a New York landmark and brings it to life in her latest book, The Chelsea Girls. The books follows Hazel and Maxine, who meet on a USO tour during WWII. Their friendship continues past the war and the book turns to the theatre world during the Cold War/McCarthyism. Certain choices made long before the Cold War set into motion a chain of events, how will the girls and their friendship survive? This book is a testament to people who defy rules when they are supposed to act a certain way.

If you are a historical fiction reader, a theatre lover and interested in communism, this book is for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review

I just finished reading The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis. This one was different...
The storyline was excellent, but the book was not as good as her 3 previous novels. Almost anything Davis wrote would have a hard time competing with her previous novel, The Masterpiece.
I love the way Davis sets her novels around a NYC historic landmark. This time she used The Chelsea Hotel. The thing is, she has a knack for making these buildings become fascinating, mysterious, seductive, and alive. They become as much a character as the women within the walls.
This time though, The Chelsea was not the center of the story. I did not feel compelled to.run out and research or even visit this building. Note, I said building and not character.
The characters, Maxine and Hazel, demonstrated a bond and sense of forgiveness like few friendships could ever endure. Both women had amazing life stories to tell. Even though a great betrayal occurs, the women are able to recover, with an even deeper understanding of one and other, They learned to protect and preserve one and other, as well as safeguard themselves in a dangerous world and time.
Already looking forward to the announcement of Davis' next place of distinction.

This book of historical fiction features strong characters living in the Chelsea hotel. The weaving of a mystery and the historical details makes a winning read. Some unexpected twists that keep the reader engaged too. Recommended !

Fiona Davis is an auto-read author for me. She could write a knock-knock joke on the side of a cereal box and I would devour every word (in addition to my cereal). I was totally thrilled to receive this advanced copy of her latest work, The Chelsea Girls. In "classic" Davis fashion, this novel offers alternating narratives, however rather than alternating timelines (as in her previous works), we alternate between the first person perspective, epistolary narrative of one friend and the third person narrative of the other. The novel was, as predicted, a treat however the subject matter/timeline didn't grasp my interest as well as Davis' previous novels. The 1950's McCarthy-witchhunt-era didn't spark my interest in the same way as The Masterpiece or The Address, but it was a totally enjoyable New York novel - which is for what we know and love Fiona Davis. Thank you NetGalley!

Fiona Davis absolutely never disappoints!

The Chelsea Hotel (as with all of Davis’s novels) grabbed me in the very beginning and held my attention the entire way through! Starting in the the mid 1940’s and stretching until the 1960’s, The Chelsea Hotel centers around Hazel and Maxine, who are the opposites attract type of best friends. Both women are in the entertainment industry and during the time of the Hollywood blacklist (McCarthyism), the ladies find themselves in precarious positions!

Fiona Davis is a master at writing historical fiction! Not only are her storyline’s entertaining, but I always find them educational as well. The plot was brilliantly planned out and executed. I found myself very invested in the characters (for better or worse) which is the reason I flew this book! The Chelsea Hotel is a 5 star novel that everyone will love—I highly encourage you put it at the top of your summer reading list!

Another amazing novel from Fiona Davis! This one starts during WWII with an acting troupe entertaining troops for the USO in Naples, Italy. Hazel and Maxine have a rocky start but bond quickly once they join forces to try to save a German kid's life. Once the war is over they head back to the states to try and return to their regular lives. Maxine heads to California and becomes a Hollywood starlet, while Hazel returns to New York and finds out she loves to write and direct in the theatre. It all centers around the Chelsea Hotel, a run down artist commune where inspiration is waiting for any type of artist who walks through the door. McCarthyism, Maxine and Hazel all come together at the Chelsea with disastrous results in store for all involved.

I've always loved Fiona Davis' writing, and this is no exception. The character development is amazing, she makes you fall in love with some and absolutely hate others. There are a couple of twists I didn't see coming, that will keep you on your toes. I will say the part with the ghosts of the old hotel was a little weird, but didn't detract anything from the story.

I received an Advanced Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A USO Tour in Naples, Italy, 1945, brings entertainers Hazel Ripley and Maxine Mead to the same stage. For Hazel, this was an opportunity to be on stage while supporting her country and also honor her brother’s memory. Maxine, an aspiring Hollywood actress is in Italy hoping to live in the “real world” for a change. The girls become close friends, even though quite the opposites- “Hayseed Hazel” and a rising Hollywood star? This incongruous relationship continues after the war as the friends are rejoined when Maxine leaves Los Angeles to find Hazel at the Chelsea Hotel in New York City. Hazel-the playwright in residence, has been gathered into the loving bosom of the collective at the Chelsea- the left-wing organizers, the refugee families, and the creative artists; actors, musicians, designers, photographers. and especially Lavinia Smarts. Lavinia has used her influence to put Hazel in touch with a producer and director, who think she is the next Lillian Hellman. Hazel’s play, Wartime Sonata, inspired by her experiences as a USO tour performer, is being cast and will be performed on Broadway at the Biltmore Theater.

The United States was recovering from World War ll, but 1950 was the beginning of a period in the United States in which Cold War tensions fueled fears of widespread Communist subversion. Due to these fears many believed that spies had infiltrated the United States federal government, universities, film industry, and elsewhere. Fiona Davis puts this era right on center stage and the house lights shine brightly in the garrish faces of those involved in the House Un-American Activities Committee, HUAC. The Chelsea Girls brings a tumultuous time in our history to the forefront for younger readers who haven’t heard or read about the Hollywood Ten and “McCarthyism.” In between the accusations, subpoenas, and questioning, there’s a story of love and friendship, that will have your heart and mind switching sides several times.

The reader learns that on Broadway the reviewers dash out of a play to get their copy into the late edition of the newspapers. The producer waits for the papers and scans quickly in search for the theater section. The reviews are read and if he enters the after-party holding the issues above his head, then the champagne corks begin popping. If he tosses the papers into the trash and joins the party empty-handed then the party turns into a wake. The Grateful Reader would enter the party for The Chelsea Girls with “newspapers aloft!” Pour the champagne! Cheers to The Chelsea Girls!

This novel explores the fascinating and frightening era of the Communist witch-hunt in post WWII America. Davis uses the lives of 2 women, Hazel and Maxine to dig into that time. She is able to blend in much of the history of the era, naming names.

Davis has set this in The Chelsea Hotel, during its intellectual peak in the 1959s through its decline in the 1960s. We are able to see the long lasting scars of those McCarthy years and the work of men such as Roy Cohn. It’s a period of history that I find especially rich, especially during these times of division.

This was very well researched and I found it very thoughtful. The women at the center of the story are extremely well-developed. Davis has managed to create a rich drama combining history and fiction.

I think that this is a novel that will be enjoyed by reading groups. Many seminars in American history might benefit by reading it and then drilling down into the lives of some of the people who are mentioned. I especially urge the reading about Lillian Hellman, Bartlett Crumb, The Rosenbergs, Roy Cohn, Zero Mostel, Philip Loeb, Arthur Miller and so many others that will help you understand this turbulent time.

Thank you for the opportunity to be a reader and reviewer of this excellent piece of historical fiction.

I have enjoyed every book Fiona Davis has written so I was eager to get my hands on The Chelsea Girls. I like how the author takes a famous landmark and explores this history of it, creating characters and settings that puts the reader right in that time and place. In this novel, the setting is the Chelsea Hotel. It sounded like a wonderful, bohemian place that was home to many interesting characters.



The details:

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.



I didn’t expect this book to go as deep as it did, politically. There is a combination of war, communism, and spying that makes the story more serious than the other ones Fiona has written. When the book begins, Hazel and Maxine are young, innocent women who meet during a USO tour. After the war, Hazel heads to NYC where she writes a play that ultimately stars Maxine. Hazel lives at the Chelsea Hotel while she enjoys some success as a female playwright and after the play, Maxine heads to Hollywood where she becomes a famous actress.

During this time, people in Hazel and Maxine’s world are under investigation and are watched, accused of being communists. Who can the women trust and most of all, can they trust each other? I enjoyed this novel and more than anything made me want to learn more about the Chelsea Hotel! I can’t wait to see which landmark Fiona Davis writes about next.

Due out July 30.

It is the 1950's and the Chelsea Hotel is the setting for this novel. Two of its residents, Hazel Riley, a playwright and Maxine Mead an actress are the main protagonists in this McCarthy era story. Both women, having met near the end of WWII when they joined the USO tour in Naples, Italy. Now, Hazel has written a play about their experience during wartime...directing said play with Maxine in the lead part. With Hazel having a falling out with her family and Maxine having a rift with her married boyfriend, both wind up living at the Chelsea. The hotel houses many creative people, and as such these talents are being suspected of having "communist" affiliations and are under the microscope of McCarthy and his ilk.

This is a time in our country's history when many of the famous "Hollywood" type had their careers ruined. Known as the "Red scare" those that were targeted were asked to inform on others...would either Hazel or Maxine fall into that category?

Wonderfully written and hard to put down, this book gives us a glimpse into the McCarthy years.As the story unfolds, we also take a peak into the world of theater, New York City in the 50's as well as its glamour and "swank". A look into the past, one that was not the brightest time in our country's history, well told filled with drama, friendship and the strength and steadfastness of these friendships. Fiona Davis never disappoints.

My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fiona Davis again makes a New York architectural landmark a character in her books. This time the landmark is the Chelsea Hotel, a home for artistic types, and a refuge for Hazel after she returns from a World War II USO tour and has a falling out with her family. Hazel and Maxine are negotiating making it in theater but it is the era of McCarthy hunting communists and no one in the entertainment community is safe. The choices, many made long before the war, come back to ruin lives and careers. Will Hazel and Maxine survive?

The Chelsea Girls takes a look at New York landmark the Chelsea Hotel and the devastation to the entertainment industry wrought by the McCarthy era of the 1950s, through the lens of a first time playwright and her best friend/leading actress. The book spans from their meeting in the 40s through to the 60s, told in 3 acts and alternating between Hazel and Maxine's perspectives.
I thought the witch hunting behaviour of the McCarthy era was well handled, especially what the allegations did to people caught up in the grist mill, like Floyd. The Chelsea Hotel of the 1950s sounded like an artistic haven and a fascinating place to live, under David Bard's hectic care. However, I failed to connect with either Hazel or Maxine, they were like paper dolls in a world of fleshed out characters and scenery.
I would still recommend the book because I think the McCarthy era is an under served part of American history in the historical fiction genre; and also that revisiting this era is important in a time of increasing political divisions and #cancel culture. Davis does a fabulous job immersing the reader in the era and settings, hopefully stronger leading ladies will come her way in the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc for my consideration, in exchange for an honest review.

"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." Five Stars! Fiona Davis, once again, hits every note just right. Bravo! Also - I found it to be a very timely read .