I was so excited to get an ARC of Maria. I loved this book! Growing up, I watched The Sound Of Music every year when it came on TV with my mom. How fascinating to find out about how much was changed for the sake of the Broadway show and more about who Maria was besides the image in the movie. It was also interesting to learn about Hammerstein, who I really don’t know much about. I finished this book in four days and it usually takes me about two weeks to read a similar size novel.

This is a wonderful read, I have always loved the Sound of Music but this gives us a whole new understanding of the real story. The writing is excellent, research was in-depth, but most importantly she brings them all to life with dignity and integrity. This book has it all, love, loss, heartbreak and sacrifice.

Years ago I read another true story on the making of the Wizard of Oz, it too was an excellent read. I thank you Ms. Moran on a wonderful book and letting us all know the true side of this classic. I highly recommend and 5 stars is not enough.

I thank Random House Publishing Group along with NetGalley for providing this Galley edition for no requirement other than my offer to provide an unbiased review.

The Sound of Music has always been one of my favorite movies and I couldn’t wait to dive into this novel. It did not disappoint. Told in a dual timeline, Maria relates her story to Fran Connelly, secretary to Oscar Hammerstein in hopes of “fixing” the inaccuracies in the script of the upcoming stage play. We learn what is fact and what is fiction in the musical. Yes, Maria really did make play clothes for the children from the draperies hanging in her bedroom. No, the family did not escape the Nazis by walking over the mountains to Switzerland. Maria’s story at times tugs at the heartstrings, at others makes me smile, and still others makes me groan at the poor decisions she makes. She is in reality a much more nuanced character than that portrayed in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. It is obvious the author has been meticulous in her research and I feel like I’ve gotten to know the real Maria Von Trapp a little more. A must read for historical fiction fans and lovers of musicals alike. Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for giving me an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I would probably give this book 4.5 stars if it were possible. This book was such an eye opening experience for me as I did not know much about the /real/ Maria von Trapp and only knew the movie/musical version of her. Seeing that she was a fully complex woman who was flawed and maybe the less sympathetic out of the Captain and Maria was not something I was expecting. This story does a wonderful job of showing how Hammerstein was such a mastermind.

It was a wonderful book! You will learn so much about the Sound of Music and come to love the real Maria. Michelle Moran has written another stunning book and transported me to another time.

As someone who grew up loving “The Sound of Music,” I was very excited to read this! Michelle Moran did a wonderful job with Maria’s story. To learn that the movie we grew up with from Hammerstein was inaccurate, this book was wonderful to finally get to know Maria and her real story.

I absolutely loved this book. It’s a novel about how the story of Maria Von Trapp came to be the musical and movie that is The Sound of Music. Though there are some fictional characters in the book such as Fran, a writer who works for Oscar Hammerstein, the book is based on Maria’s story. It was interesting to learn how Maria’s story is different and similar from the show, which became the premise for the movie.

We learn about Maria’s time at Nonnberg Abbey, arriving to the Von Trapp home, and how her relationship grows with the Captain and his children.

The Sound of Music is my favorite movie of all time, and I’ve had the opportunity to visit Salzburg, and several of the locations from the movie, but I learned so much about Maria and the Captain’s story from this book that I didn’t know before, and it was an eye opening and interesting read for me.

Utterly and completely enchanting! The Sound of Music is one of my favorite movies, but this book is an amazing look at the real woman and the real family behind the musical, and a look at the history of the musical.

If you have ever seen the Sound of Music you HAVE to read this book! As a young girl I watched the Sound of Music many times, so when I saw this book was coming out and it was by one of my favorite historical fiction writers I had to read it. It was everything I hoped for and more. I learned so much about the von Trapp family and about Maria's life. I cried when I read about the difficult upbringing Maria faced and her desire to have a stable home. Their life in Austria and the struggles Maria faced in becoming a step mother to so many children was nothing I had really thought about when watching the musical. I had no idea just how much the war had impacted their family or how difficult their real life may have been. The story was fascinating and I devoured it all.

The book also features Fran who is tasked with hearing about Maria's story so Maria doesn't create waves when the musical premieres. I enjoyed reading about her story and her interactions with Hammerstein. The book includes an Author's Note which I always love in historical fiction so that the reader knows what is real and not. It also let the reader know what happened to all of the children which I appreciated. This book is a MUST READ! I loved it and I really think anyone who has ever watched the Sound of Music will find it just as fascinating as I did.

Thank you to Dell/Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

I am a big Sound of Music fan. I was so excited when I received this arc. I was always interested in what happened to the Von Trapp family. I loved how this book talked about Maria’s childhood through the Von Trapps settling in America. This book answered a lot of my questions and I learned a lot. I will be looking for more books by this author.

The Sound of Music is my favorite movie, so I was beyond excited to enjoy an early read. I was not disappointed. This is a dual time-line story that is gorgeously written and cleverly imbeds the dual stories. First, it is the story of Maria, the family governess, marrying Georg, a man with seven children in 1927. The family escaped the Nazis in 1938 on a train through Italy. This book is also the story of the making of the ‘Sound of Music’ on Broadway and Maria’s objection to the fictionalized version of the Von Trapp family story. Finally, it is a love story among Oscar Hammerstein’s assistances.

This is good book for both historical fiction readers and fans of the Sound of Music or any one that enjoys a beautifully written story.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for an early read in exchange for a fair review. The book was awesome and revisiting the story of Maria Von Trapp was amazing.

I've been a fan of Michelle Moran's writing since reading her Egyptian Royals Collection, a historical fiction trilogy about Nefertiti, Nefetari, and Selene. So, you can understand my excitement when I received an early copy of Maria to read!

Aside from having seen The Sound of Music with Julie Andrews, I knew next to nothing about Maria von Trapp -- or the von Trapp family in general. Reading Maria was a fascinating experience for me for a few reasons.

First, I learned about the reality of the von Trapp family, especially the personality differences between what is seen in The Sound of Music versus real life. Second, Moran beautifully illustrated life in Austria pre-WWII, with interesting insights into the rise of the Nazi regime that can be seen with years of hindsight. Lastly, it was particularly interesting to learn about the work that went into producing the Rogers & Hammerstein Broadway musical, on which this book centers.

Michelle Moran did a fantastic job humanizing Maria von Trapp. She did not shy away from the woman's flaws, and she painted a robust portrait of an idealized family who faced internal struggles alongside the political machinations of the WWII period. The book flowed well and was easy to follow, even with regular jumps between a few different time periods. In all, it left me curious to learn more about the family and the period in which they lived!

I was obsessed with The Sound of Music as a child, and I still probably know every word to the movie. This book was so eye opening and, at times, heart breaking. I loved getting insight in the true life of Maria and her family. I am inclined to delve deeper and pick up her autobiography, and maybe something on the success of Hammerstein.

As a huge fan of “The Sound of Music” I really enjoyed this. I don’t think I realized that the movie was based on a true story, and that they were actual people portrayed. It was a little sad to hear about some of the real life events and flaws that Maria had, but of course we all have flaws in our own lives as well. If you’re a fan of the movie, I would recommend you read this also.

Maria A Novel about Maria Von Trapp by Michelle Moran (Ebook read to on NetGalley app)

This book is obviously well researched and I believe very well written. The life of The real Maria van Trapp is shown in a way that introduces how she really was with an understanding of why she was that way. There is also a glimpse into the other Von Trapp family members, how they actually were and what the family actually was like before Maria entered the home.

Maria Von Trapp‘s life began as an unwanted child. I noticed a lot of similarities in her later actions and that of my grandmother who also lost her mom early and spent years in an orphanage. It’s really interesting how similar they are. Mostly in their view of family and how they both tried to take their version of a perfect family and fit everyone into it . however all families are imperfect and hardly ever meld into perfection. The way they reacted to this is very similar .

The book points out the difference between the version Hammerstein created and the actual Maria von Trapp. And the objections the real Maria had to the play. It also takes the reader on an interesting side journey through what was going on in Hammersteins life as he wrote what would be his final work.

I enjoyed the book and will recommend it to my friends. I also forsee this book being a popular book club read.

I have received an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review

3.5/5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I was super excited to read this book, as I had grown up listening to the music from the Sound of Music in a broadway-loving house—and it didn’t disappoint!

Telling the true story of the Von Trapp family, and juxtaposing it with a young writers personal journey, entertained with Rodger’s and Hammerstein, Michelle Moran weaves a great historical fiction read!

It’s easy to fall into the dual timelines and get engrossed in the historical aspect. I loved hearing the differences between the story I grew up with vs. the truth of what actually happened.

I recommend this to historical fiction lovers—especially those who love broadway!

This is a beautifully written, well researched story of Maria von Trapp, that provides insight into the real Maria who married a Baron at age 22, and became the mother to his 7 children. They had 3 more children, bringing the total to a family of 12.
The book begins in 1959 in Manhattan, New York, when Maria is 55 years old. A play is being written about the von Trap family and Maria writes a letter to Oscar Hammerstein, expressing her concern that the script is not an accurate representation of her life, which the musical is based upon.
The story backs up to around 1913-1914 through Maria’s difficult childhood and moves forward to her young adult years around 1926, after she has graduated from a teaching college and is now at the Abbey in Salzburg, teaching children and preparing to be a nun.
The Abbey has received a request for a teacher, by Captain von Trapp, widower and father of 7 children, for a teacher come to teach one of his daughters too ill to attend school. Although she protests, mainly because of her fear of men, Maria agrees to move into the von Trapp Villa and care for the children. Anyone familiar with the move The Sound of Music will remember that Maria falls in love with the 7 children, and their father, George, falls in love with Maria.
The love of singing opens many doors to this lovable family during difficult times. They sing all though Europe, and eventually in America when Hitler takes over Austria and they flee to the United States.
The story also jumps back occasionally to 1959 and Maria’s concern for the accuracy of Oscar Hammerstein’s musical that is already in rehearsal. Hammerstein appoints one of his most dedicated and trusted employees, Fran, to meet with Maria about her concern of the accuracy of the script.
This captivating story of the lovable von Trapp family is not only fascinating, but also heartwarming. I recommend also reading the author’s notes at the end that provides additional insight into her research and this remarkable family.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

More than a novel about the life of Maria von Trapp, this is a novel about the making of the musical The Sound of Music based on a portion of her life. Indeed, for those that don't know, before the more famous 1965 film with the same title, there was a Broadway musical created in 1959 by Rodgers & Hammerstein, on which the hit film is based.
(Full review in link.)

It has been a long, long time since Ms. Moran published a book. I needn't have worried - she is back and better than ever! She has been an auto-buy author for me ever since I first read Nefertiti as a sophomore in college - and each of her books thereafter have never failed to draw me in. I don't know what magic spell she weaves when she writes, but her books (every single one of them) are always so good. "Maria" was fantastic. Having been obsessed with "The Sound of Music" since a ten year old, I could not wait to read Ms. Moran's well-researched novel about the true story behind the film. It was as stunning as the movie. It drew me in from the first page and I felt like I didn't breathe until the last page, it was so good! I just kept turning page after page because I couldn't stop, couldn't put it down. Maria's voice was so strong and distinctive, and I adored Fran. Here is the real woman behind the legend, her incredible life, her amazing spirit. This was such a wonderful book and I am so honored that I was able to read an ARC of it. One of my best reads of 2024, and I am so glad Ms. Moran is back!
One hundred stars!!!

The irony is not lost on me that this is a fictionalized account of the life of a real woman who objected to... a fictionalized account of her life. And yet! Michelle Moran nailed it. I thought the story was beautifully done, gently and sensitively handled, and finely balanced between the lovable and the difficult parts of Maria's character.
Anyone who has seen The Sound of Music can probably recall the main story beats--the stern disciplinarian captain, the ray of sunshine Maria, the seven singing children, and the daring getaway over the mountains to Switzerland. In the frame story of this book, Hammerstein's young assistant meets with Maria von Trapp to discuss her concerns over the production's accuracy. Maria peels back the layers of invention to tell her own story. Some of the events in the musical turn out to be real; others are complete fabrication. Maria's own story is engaging and it tugs at the heartstrings in different ways than the musical.
At first, I was skeptical about whether I could rely on the accuracy in this book any more than The Sound of Music. After all, fictionalizing a story means that imagination is at work. By the end of the story, though, I came to appreciate the author's carefulness. Her research seems impeccable, and there were a number of primary sources for her to draw from, even for events that I wondered about.

Lovely read if you like musicals, mountain settings, 20th century history, and strong but sometimes challenging female protagonists.