I grew up loving The Sound of Music so I was pretty excited to get my hands on this book. I knew a lot of the Von Trapp family's story had been changed for the movie but I found myself googling things while reading this to see what exactly was true or not. It was interesting, to say the least.

The (fictional) account of the (real) Maria von Trapp, Maria is breathtakingly written, full of heart and heartbreak alike.

Thank you Netgalley, Random House and Michelle Moran for the arc!

This is me giving ALLLLL the stars!!! Guys … this book!!! Boldly shouting from the hills that it’s in my top reads of 2024! The Sound of Music is one of my all time favorite movies, so when I saw this book pop up I couldn’t grab it fast enough! And I was absolutely captivated by it from page one!

It’s a historical fiction based on the life story of Maria … giving you not only an entertaining read but also an honest & real view of the Von Trapp family! Beautifully & respectfully done … I couldn’t put it down! I learned so much background from Maria’s childhood & the fears that made her, the real Baron and what he was really like, actual timeline & events and so much more … especially the lives of the children! You even get a sneak peek behind the scenes of the making of the Broadway play with Rodgers & Hammerstein! The whole story is just perfection and I am gushing, but I really did love it that much!

Do not miss Michelle’s notes at the end of the book to find out more about the fiction / nonfiction elements to the book … fascinating! I found myself “googling” so much to see pictures & performances and even the Trapp Family Lodge in Vermont, which hello!!! … is now on my bucket list of places to vacay!

I really enjoyed this book-It is an easy read and very interesting - I think you will enjoy this book whether you are a fan of the movie or not. If you know someone who is a fan of the Sound of Music - this would be a terrific gift!

Maria,” by Michelle Moran, is a historical fiction book about Maria von Trapp and the making of the play “The Sound of Music.” Before the play opened Maria was concerned about certain aspects of the play that were not to her liking. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein were putting final touches on the play and Maria was upset about certain aspects of the way the story was represented. Mr. Hammerstein's assistant Fran was tasked with getting Maria's approval. During her conversations with Maria we get know more about her life as a child and her life with the Von Trapp family and learn about her life with the Captain and the children. What I also found interesting was the background story concerning Oscar Hammerstein. I am looking forward to reading more of this author's work.

I have always been a fan of the movie so it was really interesting learning more about the real Maria and the von Trapp family. I had no idea she had such a hard and tragic upbringing. One thing that really surprised me was the way she was portrayed in the movie differs quite a bit from how she was in real life...she was the stern one while the Captain was more gentle and kind.

I enjoyed the story changing back and forth between the late 1950s and the past. I loved how the author used a fictional character to tell the true story of Maria. One of my favorite parts was learning how the Captain proposed to Maria and how much the children were involved with it. A must read historical fiction for all fans of The Sound of Music!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Maria A Novel of Maria von Trapp by Michelle Moran

I enjoyed this story. Maria von Trapp, of The Sound of Music fame, is ready to tell Oscar Hammerstein that she is not happy with his musical. The tale he is spinning is not accurate. She does this through conversations with Fran, his assistant. It is now 1959.

The reader gets an interesting view of the von Trapp family in Austria, 1926, and how postulate Maria came to their family. Widower Georg von Trapp needs a governess for his seven children, and a special tutor for his ill daughter Mitzi. The musical Maria sees that all the von Trapp offspring are very talented and so begins their journey.

The picture you may have of the von Trapps from The Sound of Music needs clarification according to a now older Maria living in the United States. Having escaped the Nazis, she feels that Georg’s character needs to be softened. Three stars for this one.

4.5 rounded up
As a huge fan of the 1965 Rodgers & Hammerstein film, Sound of Music, I jumped at the chance to read Maria by Michelle Moran. I was further thrilled when I discovered that the book is not only the true story of the events that inspired the movie, the script of the Broadway musical is the basis of the entire book! Honestly, readers do not need to have seen the film or show to enjoy this wonderful historical fiction novel, but if you are a fan, you will be in heaven while you read.

The story takes place during the rehearsals for the opening of the Broadway show, Sound of Music. The main character, Fran works for Oscar Hammerstein, and while he is very busy, she is tasked with circumventing the disruption of Maria von Trapp, who has arrived and is intent on changing the inaccuracies in the script. As Maria tells Fran what really happened, the reader is transported back into the years when Maria was young and we hear her story through her eyes.

I learned so much that I did not know about the Trapp family, and also also adjusted my understanding of their inspiring story. This is the first book by Michelle Moran I have read, but it certainly will not be the last, as I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and appreciate the thoroughly researched story. She even includes an appendix that tells what happened to each of the family members after the story ended.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for the digital ARC of Maria: A ovel of Maria von Trapp by Michelle Moran. The opinions in this review are my own.

We all know Maria. But do we really? Maria von Trapp has shown up to NYC to confront Oscar Hammerstein. She is very upset with his latest musical about her life. She ends up creating a friendship with his secretary, Fran. And Fran soon discovers almost everything she knew about Maria is false.

This is a well researched and awesome tale about a real life person we all know and love! Hollywood really fooled us! But, I still love Maria. She was raised in a horrible situation, escaped the Nazi’s, (barely) and just did the best she could. No, she was not perfect (like the movie portrays). She was human! And this book brings all that to life. She pushed her step kids into performing after they arrived in America, to the point that most of them disliked and hated singing.

While I was reading this book, I was steadily looking up the history surrounding Maria. How did I just assume Hollywood got it right???!! She was a strong, fascinating woman who loved fiercely and was determined to be the best.

Need a fantastic tale about a unique lady…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

4.5 stars - This is a must-read for The Sound of Music fans!

I was enraptured by this dual timeline, going between Maria's life as depicted in her biography, and the struggles she faced with the creation of the Broadway show. This was such a beautifully written journey with facts I didn't know about Maria's life.

As someone who grew up on the movie and worshiped it as a little girl, this book made my heart so happy, even though there were plenty of sad times throughout the story. While I was smiling at the end, I completely lost it during the author's note and had to pull myself together after about 15 minutes. I can't recommend this one enough!

If you’ve enjoyed the movie or musical “The Sound of Music” this is the book for you. I would also recommend this to learn more about that interesting period in history. MARIA is a fictional tale based on Maria von Trapp. It gives you those nostalgic “I remember when” feels in that it takes you back to the first time you watched it, to a place and time that felt magical, an experience that felt unlike any other.

In the 50’s Rogers and Hammerstein were asked to write the lyrics to a new musical based on the life of a woman, Maria von Trapp. Maria wanting her life to be depicted correctly went to see Hammerstein, but instead was sent to his secretary whom she relayed her life’s story to. The book goes back and forth between Maria telling the actual story of her life, and the time of when the musical was being written in the 1950's.

If you’re wondering what is truth and what is fiction in the musical, this will help curb that curiosity. Maria’s real story is that of a young woman who lived a tragic life fighting tooth and nail to keep her family safe and intact. You will understand Maria in a different context than what Hollywood told. Moran has written such a fascinating story that I immediately wanted to rewatch the movie after finishing the book. Excellent. ❥ 4.5 stars — 7/30/24

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In the 50’s Rogers and Hammerstein were asked to write the lyrics to a new musical based on the life of a woman, Maria von Trapp. Maria wanting her life to be depicted correctly went to see Hammerstein, but instead was sent to his secretary whom she relayed her life’s story to. The book goes back and forth between Maria telling the actual story of her life, and the time of when the musical was being written in the 1950's.

If you’re wondering what is truth and what is fiction in the musical, this will help curb that curiosity. Maria’s real story is that of a young woman who lived a tragic life fighting tooth and nail to keep her family safe and intact. You will understand Maria in a different context than what Hollywood told. Moran has written such a fascinating story that I immediately wanted to re-watch the movie after finishing the book.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dell for this e-arc.*

If you love historical fiction and grew up loving The Sound of Music, pick this one up for a fun, fictional dive further into Maria and her family. I absolutely loved this peak into the woman behind the play and movie I grew up watching, sharing hours and hours with my mom sharing in the music and story of the von Trapp family.

The book opens in the 1950s, with Rodgers & Hammerstein are working on the Broadway musical that is mean to tell the story of Maria’s life. When she finally gets to review the script, Maria is angry about the inaccuracies. Hammerstein the sends his (fictional) assistant to meet with Maria. In Maria and Fran's growing friendship, we learn more of the true story of Maria’s life and the von Trapp Family Singers.

Michelle's writing was engaging and it was easy to get drawn in to learn more about this emotional story that so many of us grew up familiar with. Albeit a fictional retelling, it was a fun read full of nostalgia and sweet sentiment that warmed my heart.

I'd watched The Sound of Music several times, and was always curious about the Von Trapp family, and how they came to settle in Vermont. This novel tells the story Maria wanted to tell, which is a bit different from the long standing fictionalized one. I really enjoyed this novel, and found myself going back to read more whenever I had a chance.

This is an excellent historical fiction, as it travels between the late 1950's, when the Broadway play was being developed, and Maria's actual life timeline as she relates her story to Oscar Hammerstein's fictional assistant. The transitions are clear and there is no confusion between the two timelines. Maria's childhood is heartbreakingly cruel, and it's unfortunate that she carried the trauma from that experience through her life and how it affected her relationship with her children.

This was a very good read, highly recommended! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. I have read Maria Von Trapp's autobiography, as well as the memoirs of one her daughters, who didn't paint a favorable picture of her stepmother, so I was curious about this book. Author Michelle Moran did a great job with Maria's story. It was interesting and certainly colorful. My biggest complaint was the Oscar Hammerstein story and the making of the theatrical play, The Sound of Music. Every time the story jumped forward to the 1950s, it jarred me and I never could figure out exactly who Fran, Eva, Jack, and Peter were. I only understood that they worked for Hammerstein. Perhaps, telling the story in a linear fashion and leading up to the play would have been better--at least for me as a reader. Maria's story, on the other hand, was well-written and definitely kept my interest. Hers was a unique life starting with her early years as an orphan, and her time spent in the convent, where she hoped to become a nun. Of course, her life story did not always concur with the Maria we know from the play and the movie, but it was fascinating nonetheless. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in reading about the real Maria Von Trapp--maybe read all of the Maria chapters and then go back to the beginning and read the Hammerstein chapters. That definitely would have worked better for me.

I was one of those people that didn't really like The Sound of Music, at least not enough to go back and see it more than once. I did think that if there was a real Maria she would be an interesting character and it wasn't until later that I found out she was a real person. In my defense I was only nine when the movie came out.

This book reminded me a little of Finding Dorothy in so far as we are learning the back story. Maria was an interesting character and I appreciated the way she fought for her family's survival during the war and then making sure her husband was depicted correctly in the movie. I have to admit that near the end I didn't like her as much but understood why she did what she did. If you loved The Sound of Music you may like this behind the scenes look.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House - Ballantine for providing me with a digital copy.

This new novel by Michelle Moran is a fascinating, honest and richly woven story about Maria von Trapp and her world-famous family, as well as the entertainment industry in the 1950s.

I chose to read this book for two reasons:
1. Michelle Moran has long been a favorite historical fiction author of mine, and
2. I have always loved the movie <b>The Sound of Music</b>, since the time I was a little girl.

Though <b>The Sound of Music</b> became a resounding success and was a "feel good" play and movie, life does not always imitate art and their lives were not all hearts, roses (or edelweiss), and music. The author does an astounding job of retelling the parts of the story that we have all come to know and love as well as the truth of Maria's traits and true character and the family's struggles. I especially appreciated all of the additional information that was included in the Author's Note at the end of the book and the update of what happened to each of the family members.

My sincere thanks to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an DRC of this beautiful novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Maria by Michelle Moran is a somewhat fictionalized story of the life of Maria von Trapp, the nun turned nanny, then mother to the children of an Austrian baron. This is the story many of us grew up watching as The Sound of Music. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel as a huge fan of the movie, and enjoyed seeing some of the true aspects of the story that were changed for the movie. I highly recommend it! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Such an eye opening behind the scenes story of Maria von Trapp. I was immediately transported into the movie as I have watched it so very many times. Surprisingly, Maria was definitely not the beloved Julie Andrew’s as she was portrayed in the movie. Instead she was a real woman, a strong disciplinarian, who, in my opinion, was, at times, emotionally abusive to the children. Their life as the sensational singing group took precedence over everything else. I love that the author chose to tell Maria’s story, including her difficult childhood, which served to explain some of her behaviors as an adult.
The most intriguing part of this fictionalized version was the fact that the movie radically fictionalized much of the von Trapp’s story. I was never aware of that before. I also loved the focus on Hammerstein and most of all the fictitious Fran. In my mind there had to be a real Fran, frantically trying to control Maria’s response to the Broadway production as well as the movie. I cannot imagine how difficult it was for her to see them rewriting her life in order to make it more appealing to audiences - no wonder she was so very frustrated.
This read showed a real family with real issues - flawed as real families are, as opposed to the cupcakes and kittens version I have always pictured. Definitely more relatable. There is bound to be a huge resurgence of The Sound of Music after readers everywhere choose to watch it again. I know I am going to.
Many thanks to Michelle Moran, Dell, and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this walk down memory lane, seeing this fairy tale family through a different, more realistic lens. A must read for those who grew up watching The Sound of Music. Publishing on July 30th.

MARIA: A NOVEL OF MARIA VON TRAPP by Michelle Moran is well-told and enlightening novel based on the real story of the life of Maria von Trapp, the iconic character in the popular musical and movie, The Sound of Music. Anyone who has seen The Sound of Music likely feels they already know all about Maria and the von Trapp family, but in this novel, readers will learn that much of the truth was altered for the stage production to increase its appeal. The story begins in the 1950s, when Rodgers & Hammerstein are working on the Broadway musical that is supposedly a retelling of the story of Maria’s life. But when Maria sees the script, she in furious about the many inaccuracies and demands changes. Hammerstein sends his assistant, the fictional Fran Connelly, to meet with Maria and hopefully appease her. Through the growing friendship between Maria and Fran, the reader learns the true story of Maria’s early life and the origins of the Trapp Family Singers. As a big fan of the movie, I enjoyed this engrossing and emotional story told from Maria’s point of view. Don’t miss the Author’s Note at the end about which parts are fact and which are fiction. I highly recommend this book and thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Maria is the (almost, because it is still historical fiction) story of the real Maria von Trapp - the woman who inspired The Sound of Music. The novel takes place weeks before the musical is supposed to open; Maria reaches out to Oscar Hammerstein because she wants to share her dissatisfaction with how she and her family are being portrayed. Fran, Hammerstein’s secretary, is sent to take notes on what she wants changed and why. Over the course of a week, Maria tells her life story to Fran and the reader learns how it differs from the one we have all grown up with.

I was so excited to read this because I loved watching The Sound of Music when I was young (and my kids did too) and I always enjoy Michelle Moran’s books on female historical figures. I found learning Maria’s story outside of how the musical portrayed her to be interesting because I had never really thought about the real people behind the musical until I visited the von Trapp Family Lodge in 2021 (and the food was delicious - and their beer and cheese if you can find it in stores, is fabulous!). After that visit (and still constantly eating the cheese) I have actually been very curious about the real story behind the family so this book definitely scratched an itch for me - and since Moran wrote it, it was enjoyable to read. The novel also shows how Hollywood takes a biographical story and changes it to fit into a mold of what it thinks people want to see rather than the truth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Dell for the ARC to review