I would like to thank Random House, Megan Whalen, and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book as as an ARC. Ok, full disclosure- I am a Theater Nerd. I love musical theater especially the 50's and 60's. As my long suffering husband will tell you, I can sing the score of The Sound of Music in its entirety ( not well, but:). And once on a trip you Germany, when he pointed out I could see Austria from where we stood- I twirled around and burst out into "The Hills are alive"!. I scared a few goats as I recall.Anyway, This book had me at -you have been pre approved. It is a backstory of the making of The Sound of Music, in 1959/1960. It was to be the last play of Rogers and Hammerstein. It begins a few weeks before the play opens. Maria Von Trapp is at the theater and is not happy, because the play does not accurately follow her life. One of Hammerstein's assistants is tasked with the job of talking with her and taking notes on her concerns. No they didn't cross the alps into Switzerland to escape, and the ages and names of the children were inaccurate, but much of the story was true, So why was Maria so upset. This is what Fran tries to find out.The book moves between Maria's retelling of her life to Fran, events happening with Fran, Peter and Jack, who all work for Oscar Hammerstein, and the production of the play. I have read books on both Hammerstein and Rogers before, as well as Maria's Von Trapp's Autobiography. Some characters are invented,as well as some modern day plot lines. For me, this is a wonderful companion to my already overflowing shelf of books about Broadway. To have this book to read, well as the song says, I must have done something good!

Not my favorite Michelle Moran book but still wonderful! I learned alot about Maria von Trapp! The writing was very well done!

In "Maria," Michelle Moran takes us behind the scenes of one of the most beloved musicals of all time, shedding light on the real-life story that inspired *The Sound of Music*. Set in the 1950s, we follow Oscar Hammerstein as he delves into the life of Maria von Trapp, a former novice who transformed from an aspiring nun into the matriarch of the singing von Trapp family. What starts as a simple teaching assignment for a widowed baron’s child blossoms into an unexpected romance and a harrowing escape from the Nazis.

Moran masterfully captures the intrigue and drama as Maria confronts the fictionalization of her life, forming a bond with Hammerstein's secretary, Fran. Their friendship unearths the complexities of Maria’s experiences, revealing a tale far richer and more tumultuous than what the Broadway stage would eventually portray.

This novel is not just about the creation of a musical; it's a poignant exploration of love, loss, and resilience. Moran's storytelling reminds us that real life often defies the simplicity of stage adaptations, offering a narrative that's both inspirational and heartbreakingly real.

If you’re a fan of *The Sound of Music* or enjoy historical fiction that digs deep into the human spirit, "Maria" is a must-read.

There are already a lot of quite detailed reviews out, so I'm not going to try to summarize the contents. I'll simply say, I liked it. Perfect? Of course not. No matter how much we reviewers gush over books we've really liked, no book is perfect. This one, however, does an excellent job of not only pulling the curtain back on the real backstory of Maria von Trapp.but the story behind the making of the musical "Sound of Music". Many of us have seen the movie version repeatedly and simply looking at the cover is enough to start hearing the title track in our minds. Michelle Moran has done an intensive, in-depth research effort here and it shows.

Being a history buff, I found myself putting the book aside at times to do a deep dive into the proverbial rabbit hole to see what else I could glean of the times of Maria's life. I was actually somewhat surprised to discover how many of the probably "little known facts" I actually knew, maybe because at some point I recall reading Maria's own book. What I didn't know or had forgotten, however, were the darker elements of Maria's own childhood. Reading about it, it's easily understood why finding her own family, her own place of security, was so important to Maria. With the fictional Fran Connelly as the conduit, we get a glimpse of the real Maria. The strength and, yes, stubbornness that surely helped her survive her youth and endure. Is she always a sympathetic character? Far from it. Unlike the sweet faced, perky, seemingly always cheerful character depicted by Julie Andrews, Maria was far more complex.

As it turned out, due to "life", I wound up reading the book over a period of days in spurts. Normally a negative, this may have worked to my benefit. The book is broken into sections, or points of view. By sheer luck, I usually found myself finishing one POV just as I had to take a break from reading. Fran's were in what we'll call the then present time while, for lack of a better way of explaining it, Maria's might best be described as flashbacks containing flashbacks. There's a great deal to take in. For me, while Fran's sections didn't hold my attention as well as those featuring Maria -- after all, that's who we come to this book to read about -- they did a good job of linking the past and present. especially as we see how Maria's story helped Fran work through a difficult span of her own life. In the process, we not only get to learn about Maria's life but get to see a side of how musicals/movies are created and the hows and whys of what might be included or rejected.

Bottom line, I highly recommend this book. Knowing the "rest of the story" only enhances our enjoyment of both. Sure, the plot may not be 100% accurate but the core of the story, as we learn, is there. In fact, for the curious, make sure you read the author's notes and "Whatever Happened to..." section. Those were fun. Maria's story is complex and intriguing and you'll come away feeling more empathy and kinship with the entire von Trapp Family. My thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishingGroup for allowing me this peek behind the scenes of a story we all thought we knew. Nope. We weren't even close. Let's face it. Life is complex.

First line: Dear Mr. Hammerstein, It may come as a surprise that I am writing to you, as it appears that the theater industry believes I am dead and can now make up whatever they wish about me.

Summary: In the 1950s, Oscar Hammerstein was asked to write the music for the upcoming Broadway musical, The Sound of Music, based on the life of an Austrian nun named Maria von Trapp. With just a few weeks until the premiere, the office of Rodgers and Hammerstein receive a letter from the musical’s heroine stating her displeasure with the changes they made to her story. In an attempt to head off any bad press the former nun could throw at the new musical, Hammerstein asks his secretary and aspiring writer, Fran, to talk with Maria and try to smooth over any discrepancies. While Fran listens to Maria’s tale she learns that life for the Von Trapps was much more complicated than even the best Broadway musical can portray.

My Thoughts: When I was younger The Sound of Music was one of my favorite movies. I love Julie Andrews and her rendition of these beautiful songs. While in fifth grade my family took a trip to Germany with a detour to Salzburg, Austria where my family visited several filming/historical locations from the story. It was a highlight for me on that trip, along with visiting the birthplace of Mozart. My love of history started young.

Michelle Moran is a fantastic historical fiction writer. She brings the women she writes about to life and gives a deeper look into their lives. Even though I loved the musical, I never actually read Maria’s autobiography so much of what I “knew” of the Trapp family was from the film and a few facts from movie photo books. I learned a lot about this woman and the family she joined through this story. And I definitely want to read more about the life of this family.

I think it was a great idea to write the story using the upcoming musical as a backdrop rather than a straightforward biographical fiction novel. Many people know the story because of the musical and this will draw them in while also bringing them the true story. For fans of the musical, this is a great companion story.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this interesting fictional tale about Maria Von Trapp. Great writing with a few slow spots but overall great read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I was a teenager, I nannied some neighborhood kids over the summer and one girl asked me to watch The Sound of Music every day. This is not an exaggeration, I picked her up from swim practice, and when we got home we had chocolate milk and watched The Sound of Music. Also, in my junior year of high school, I was in a community theatre production of the musical. So, you could say I’m familiar.

I absolutely loved this book for many reasons. First, it’s dual timeline. I loved getting the true story of what happened in Austria from Maria, much of which varied greatly from the Rodgers and Hammerstein adaptation. I equally enjoyed the scenes set in the 1950’s leading up to the opening night of The Sound of Music on Broadway. There were conversations with Hammerstein and eventually Sondheim, which really tickled me!

My only small criticism would be that the storyline of Fran’s love life seemed unnecessary and at the end, her relationship rushed and unbelievable. I don’t feel that either of her relationships add much to the story. I understand that Jack being upset about her writing success does give an insight to the difficulties strong, ambitious women faced in the 50’s but this could have been shown without them being romantically involved.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves The Sound of Music, Broadway, or historical fiction in general.

Maria by Michelle Moran was a book I wasn’t sure about at first. I received a complimentary copy. As many of us I grew up watching the movie The Sound of Music and then watching it with my own children. This is a fictionalized version of the life of Maria von Trapp. Ms. Moran did do her research as there are facts woven in about Maria and her life. Maria always seemed like a happy character in the movie but her life was not always happy. I ended up really enjoying this book so much more than I thought I would. Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the advanced copy.

Maria von Trapp wrote at least two memoirs. "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers" inspired "The Sound of Music"; "Maria" went deeper into the abuse she suffered as a child and her life after the group dissolved. This novel borrows liberally from both—I'm pretty sure I recall some exact turns of phrase from von Trapp's books. For this novel not to be superfluous, it needed to shine light on the real Maria's inner workings and faults far more than von Trapp's books did.

Unfortunately author Michelle Moran falls short. She does discuss what was in effect Maria's emotional abuse of her daughter Rosmarie and her overall stubbornness, but she falls short on much more. The fictional Maria goes from being raised atheist to entering a nunnery: What brought that about? Originally nurturing of the stepchildren and emphasizing their need to be kids, she becomes short-tempered and even off-putting with her own children, even before becoming a demanding tyrant once they begin performing professionally: Why? The book misses out on the chance to show the evolution of her personality.

Then there's a subplot about Oscar Hammerstein's assistant Fran that has only the most tenuous of links to the story of Maria, plus one lone little chapter from Hammerstein's POV that reveals he has terminal cancer. The inclusion of that chapter is the most awkward shoehorning of a subplot I've ever come across.

Giving this three stars might seem generous. But I did enjoy the first few chapters about Fran, even though I knew where the storyline would end up. Maybe that should have been a different book altogether. And because I haven't read von Trapp's memoirs since I was a kid, reading this was a bit of cozy nostalgia for me. But if given the choice between those and this novel, choose the memoirs.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House—Ballantine, for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great fictionalized book of Maria Von Trapp. This is the first book by this author that I have read and I really enjoyed it. I love the drama and the character arcs. This is a wonderful historical book

“Maria,” by Michelle Moran, is a historical fiction book about Maria von Trapp and the making of the play “The Sound of Music.” In this book, Maria is upset about the portrayal of her husband, Captain von Trapp, and wants to speak to Oscar Hammerstein about this. Hammerstein sends one of his assistants to speak to Maria - and this story unfolds. This book is partially based upon the books that Maria wrote (two autobiographies) and some resources from the time of the play. I’ll admit, I am not a fan of the movie (though I’ll admit I understand the love for the movie), but I thought this book would be interesting to read for “the story behind the story.” I understand why Ms. Moran took the path that she did in this book - introducing Fran, the assistant, for whom Maria told her story. I wasn’t as interested in Fran’s side story regarding her writing and boyfriend. I did like the inclusion of Mr. Hammerstein’s chapter, which at first I felt was jarring, but as the book progressed I felt the information was better coming from him opposed to someone else. Maria von Trapp was more than a “sweet girl hoping to join the convent” and for those who haven’t investigated her story online, this makes her a bit more human - flaws, good points, and all. I was rather pleased to read that Captain von Trapp has a number of moments to shine as I always hoped he was a bit less “Captain” and a bit more “Dad” with his family. And I agree with Maria - why not have a second story of the von Trapp family after they left Austria - pretty interesting (and thus why she wrote a second book, I’m sure!). Overall, this was an enjoyable book … and that cover, so perfect for this book (and probably the scene most remember from the movie).

This is an extraordinary book with the inside scoop of the Trapp Family singers.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen the movie, “The Sound of Music” with the nun, Maria, on the picturesque mountain singing so beautifully. Of course, there’s also the handsome Captain Georg von Trapp with his children ranging from an adorable toddler to a sweet 16-year-old. It was the lyrics and music by Rogers & Hammerstein that had a strong impact in making this film win Best Picture in 1965 at the Academy Awards.

Naturally, I couldn’t wait to read a story about Maria’s life – not the version that was sort of true but what really happened with a timeline of events from when she was a child to her later years. Fran Connelly, Oscar Hammerstein’s secretary, met with Maria, upon her insistence, in 1959 to jot down some key points of her life. It was when the Broadway play was in the last stages of production. Maria was very clear: she wanted it to be accurate. How much did Hammerstein change the scenes to please her? There was much to tell which fascinated me.

The book gave readers a historical account of how the Nazis changed Austria when Hitler took control in 1938. While the Trapp family was caught in a dreadful time, it conveyed the close connection they had with music. The story showed how Maria and Georg’s love gave this family the strength they needed to survive. At the end, the author included a brief summary of the Trapp family members along with a list of discussion questions.

My thanks to Dell and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of July 30, 2024.

Oh, what a lovely book. The Sound of Music for a new generation, a little grittier and definitely more revealing of character than the version I grew up with. It's a book that needed to be written, so thank you for writing it. This is definitely a different, more human version of the von Trapp family that will resonate with today's readers. Maria was a real woman, with strengths and weaknesses, and we can learn from her to keep going, keep believing in yourself, and do the best you can.

Fictionalized account about the making of the play "Sound of Music" and the life of Maria Von Trapp. I don't feel like this really added a lot that was new to the story, of much of it is included in the movie and play. There were some interesting things about Maria's early life, but I feel like the author was trying to paint Maria in a bad light. She wasn't perfect but it must have taken a lot of strength and courage to rescue her family from both financial ruin and the Nazis.

Maria" by Michelle Moran offers a captivating twist on the beloved "Sound of Music" tale, presenting a fresh perspective that keeps readers engaged. Moran skillfully breathes new life into familiar characters and settings. With dual timelines, we also get to learn about Hammerstein and the creation of the musical on Broadway.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. 'The Sound of Music' brings back all the childhood memories for me; it was one of my all time favorite movies that I watched over and over constantly singing the songs. The book is about Maria Von Trapp and the details of her life and the inaccuracies of the broadway screenplay compared to real life. I was captivated from page one and could not put the book down, finishing it in one day. If you are a fan of the movie then this book is a MUST READ! I could picture each scene in the movie as it was being retold in the book.

Wow! Make sure you start with the authors note. It gives a lot of context behind what is true and what was written with liberties. I loved Sound Of Music, now after reading this, I will watch it with even more knowledge and love! The duel timeline was perfect, Maria and all the background was so interesting, definitely a book I highly recommend you picking up!!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Who doesn't love The Sound of Music?!! Michelle Moran delves into answering all the questions you might have about the real Maria von Trapp, in this historical fiction page-turner. The dual-timeline story tells of Maria's trip to New York to meet with Oscar Hammerstein ahead of the premier of the musical, to set him straight on the details he got wrong, and of Maria's upbringing and her life before, during and after the period of time the musical covers. I was hooked immediately! The story is very well-researched; Maria's life was even more interesting than what we know from the musical and movie. The storyline that takes place in the 1950s was most interesting when Maria was involved. I wasn't crazy about the side story of Fran, the Hammerstein staffer who is sent to deal with Maria's complaints. But all in all, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it!

A story that is fictional but based on fact. Yes, I like a lot of others "loved" The Sound of Music, and this is Maria's story.
Be sure to read the Author's Note, it does explain a lot, and we learn that a lot of this read is true! Sadly, some of the things a parent would love to change, but not possible!
This is a read to savor and enjoy, and find out some interesting facts about the Von Trapp family, I'm really glad that I chose to read this book! Not only did I enjoy this read, but it brought back such fond memories of the movie.
Yes, those drapes really did get cut up!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Random House Ballantine, and was not required to give a positive review.

I’m sure I am not alone in having fond memories of the first time I saw Julie Andrews in the screen adaptation of “The Sound of Music.” The hills, the songs, the voices, the story—on the big screen, it couldn’t fail to enchant. To this day, I have family members who seek out reruns in the theaters and have memorized every line of the score. Yet somehow I missed the news that Maria von Trapp was so unhappy with the treatment of her life on the stage that she wrote a letter of protest to Oscar Hammerstein begging him to rewrite the lyrics to more accurately reflect her family’s experience.

The show was in rehearsal on Broadway by the time Maria’s letter reached its destination, so it is perhaps not surprising that her protests had little effect. But that’s not the point of this charming new novel by Michelle Moran. The book moves back and forth between New York in 1959, where a group of fictional writers working for Hammerstein give their perspective on the conflict, and Maria’s own story told from her point of view, beginning in Salzburg, Austria, in 1926, when she is still a novice teaching six-year-olds at the convent.

As a writer, what fascinated me most about this book was watching in real (that is, novelistic) time the transformation of biography into story. Yes, Maria was right: “The Sound of Music” distorts her truth in ways both fundamental and trivial. And in one case—the family’s escape from Austria not long after Hitler invaded—the fictional version is actually less dramatic than the reality (the novel proposes an explanation for that). But the changes also work, in terms of dramatic arc, in ways that a strict adherence to fact could not have sustained. And that says something about fiction and its role in our lives.

Find out more when I host the author on my blog (link below) in early August 2024.