By: Michelle Moran
Review Score: 5 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints
•I loved the time jumps as Fran and Maria tell their stories.

•The story from Maria’s point of view is so engaging.

•Moran weaves fact and fiction together so seamlessly.

•It was interesting to hear about Hammerstein, and how he wrote Edelweiss.

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Maria was kindly provided as an ARC by NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!

Welcome to Five Star Friday!

I was so excited to read this book. I loved The Sound of Music as a kid, and I knew that it was somewhat based on a true story.

So when I saw this book pop up, and that it mentioned that, regardless of what the movie shows, things are not always what they seemed, I was immediately intrigued.

There are so many layers to this story as well, including Hammerstein’s cancer diagnosis, and how that impacted his music writing at the end of his life.

If you couldn’t tell, I absolutely loved this story. Fran’s dynamic at work, her interaction with Maria, and Maria’s own telling of her history, all weave together in such an amazing and engaging way.

All the stars. All of them.

If you enjoy reading the back story to favorite old movies, this book is for you. It's more than backstory, it tells all about the life of Maria Von Trapp. The Sound of Music was loosly based on her life story. In this book you'll experience what really happened and the truth is just as suspenseful as the movie. It is fascinating to see how Maria rose from a poor orphan, to the convent, then as an educator to one of Baron Von Trapp's children. They didn't really escape on foot over the Alps - the real story is more suspenseful and fascinating ! I couldn't put this book down! Maria Von Trapp was a strong hard working survivor who led her family to be world famous singers. And yet at the premier of The Sound of Music, she asked for only one ticket. What happened? Pick up this book and read her remarkable story, to find out.

Honestly, I was a tad apprehensive to read this title due to my enduring love of The Sound of Music with Julie Andrews and the music of Oscar Hammerstein - I grew up watching this and many other musicals with my grandfather, and the music and stories are a huge part of my life. However, I shouldn't have doubted Michelle Moran. This book was a delight, from the insider point of view of Fran, who worked in Rodgers and Hammerstein's office, to the "true" story coming directly from Maria von Trapp herself. Obviously, we were in for some tough truths, like the fact that Liesl was a fabrication (sorry, Rupert!), and that there was so much story just omitted after the family's escape from the Nazis in Austria, but it was a not only a joy to discover these truths, but to understand why they were eliminated in the first place.

I enjoyed the supporting story of Fran and her writing success, as well as her relationship struggles, just as much. She was a single professional woman in a time when that wasn't necessarily approved of by most people, and she was steadfast in her aspirations. I loved how supportive her boss Hammerstein was - that was a surprising relationship. And this time period is one of my favorites to read about - the descriptions of the fashions, for example, added a nice touch.

I understand why a fan of this musical, film, or family might not want to delve into a novel like this, but I think it goes a long way to dispel the misinformation out there while maintaining respect for the stories as they are known. I recommend giving it a shot! (and then watching the movie immediately thereafter, as I had to do!)

***Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for the ARC!!***

This dual timeline novel flows with present time as Hammerstein creates the story of The Sound of Music, along with Maria’s original timeline as a young woman.

I actually like both timelines equally, and this isn’t typical! I found the modern timeline insightful into the creation of the beloved story, and I loved seeing behind the sound into Maria’s personal life. As the novel progresses it delves further and further into Maria’s existence during Nazi occupation in Austria and how her family resists, along with their deep pain.

If you love the Sound of Music, historical fiction, dual timelines, you will enjoy this one for sure!

This charming book is the real life story of Maria von Trapp, the matriarch of the famous von Trapp singers portrayed in "The Sound of Music." The book is set in the frame story of the final preparations for the show to open on Broadway. Maria is said to be upset at the failure of the script to accurately depict her husband's character and the true facts of her family's story. The narrative of Maria's early life shows a young girl living in an emotionally abusive home, deserted by her father. Continuing into her adult years, this book shows Maria's devotion to the Catholic Church and vocation as a teacher.

I enjoyed this book, but the build-up to showing a very different story than what was portrayed in the movie just didn't pay off. Given that a movie or play only has two hours to tell a story, it seemed that the movie was generally true to the real life story. The only major difference that I could see was that a Catholic priest shepherded the family through its development into a singing group, rather than the slick promoter filling this role in the movie and play. I would have liked to have known more about this pivotal character in the "real story," but he is given short shift in this book.

Nevertheless, this book is well worth reading for fans of The Sound of Music. For those of us of a certain age, this was THE movie of their childhoods. This historical novel contains many interesting tidbits and poignant scenes that make the "real story" all that much more meaningful to fans of the movie and play.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advance copy of this book. Readers who think they know Maria Von Trapp from their umpteenth viewing of the Sound of Music will be surprised and absorbed by Michelle Moran's fictional account. The novel intersperses Maria's narrative starting as an orphan in the final days of the Hapsburg Empire with a fictional account of Oscar Hammerstein's personal assistant assigned to "handle" an older Maria incensed about the portrayal of her marriage in the broadway debut of the Sound of Music. Moran draws on Maria's own writing as well as other historical documents to envision the reality of a poor novice sent to be a governess to a strict sea captain and offers a fresh take on the tropes of a contemporary historical novel.

This is a combination of fiction and non fiction about Maria von Trapp’s life that was then portrayed in one of the most watched and favorite musicals of all time, The Sound of Music by Rogers and Hammerstein. Michelle Moran was able to take the research she did into the story of all parties and work into a beautiful book telling stories from different views. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

In the 1950s Oscar Hammerstein was working on the lyrics of a musical being put together about a woman who was a former nun that got married and escaped Austria during WW2. Because the war is still fresh in many people’s minds, Hammerstein knows he needs to rework what she and the family went through to be accepted on Broadway. The problem is that Maria von Trapp is not happy in the way it is done and wants it written to tell the truth. In true form during that time and in some ways today, Hammerstein sends his secretary Fran to “work it out”. He wasn’t expecting though a friendship to form between the two ladies and some of her story to become not only part of that Broadway hit, but also on the screen and be in many people’s lives through multiple generations. This also proves to us that sometimes what we see on the stage and screen isn’t always what happened and in order to find out the true story we need to do some research ourselves before making the final judgement.

My memory is not what it used to be (not that it was ever all that great) so I can’t remember if I ever knew that the Sound of Music was based on a real-life family. So, if like me, you had no idea that it was based on an actual family, this story is especially eye opening!

I found this novel totally fascinating. While Maria is portrayed as the cheerful, singing character in the movie, she was actually not all that pleasant.

However, the struggles that she went through and how her life progressed from being a novice and planning to becoming a nun, to ending up in a large singing family is quite the story.

If you like historical fiction, based around a real person, this novel does not disappoint. It will make you want to watch the movie again!

Set in the 1950s, this book explores the life of Maria von Trapp after she finds out that her life is becoming a musical. She is on the hunt the track down Oscar Hammerstein. The drama begins to unfold. As always, I wish we had learned history from novels while in school. The truth is certainly worth reading.

"The hills are alive with the sound of music." These words are some of the most iconic lyrics from the opening scene of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical "The Sound of Music." I couldn't help but hear these words as I first glanced at the beautiful front cover of Michelle Moran's novel- Maria. In this historical fiction novel, Maria von Trapp sees the script for "The Sound of Music" and sets off to discuss its inaccuracies with Oscar Hammerstein. He's too busy to talk to her, so instead Maria is told to express her concerns to his secretary Fran instead.

My favorite parts of the book were the chapters when Maria tells the "true story" of her family's history rather than the theater version. As Maria shares her story with Fran, I could feel myself cross referencing her story with the movie/play versions that I have seen multiple times throughout my lifetime. Maria's story is quite fascinating and I thought that the author's choice to have Maria share her story with Hammerstein's secretary was a creative way for some of the real facts of the von Trapp family to be shared with the fans of "The Sound of Music." I also enjoyed learning a few facts about Oscar Hammerstein too. "My heart wants to sing" out that this novel was amazing. This novel is a must read book for all aficionados of "The Sound of Music." Don't be suprised to find yourself humming Edelweiss at least once when you read it!

An ARC was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick read for me and I very much enjoyed the premise and execution.

The story follows Fran, a secretary/aide for Oscar Hammerstein, who is working on The Sound of Music. Maria von Trapp is not happy with the musical and wants Hammerstein to re-write it. Fran is dispatched to meet with Maria, hear her out and then tell her it can't be changed. Fran is swept up in Maria's story from her tragic childhood to her arrival at Nonnberg and then her arrival at the von Trapp family. It is a very different story from the musical and movie and it was interesting to see where they diverged and why.

The secondary story of Fran was good but her romantic entanglements were a bit off - they weren't well developed and could have been left out. But overall, I really enjoyed the story!

I enjoyed this very much. I’ve watched The Sound of Music movie more times than I can count, and I know words from every beloved song. I was fascinated with Maria’s story, and loved reading what movie scenes really occurred! Maria DID make play clothes from her curtains!

I want to read Maria’s autobiography now, because I was surprised by Von Trapp family experiences that were changed for the musical and movie…or completely left out.

It was also fun to get some insight into Oscar Hammerstein’s office and employees before the musical’s premiere. What a talented lyricist and successful businessman he was. The telling of his story by his fictional secretary, Fran, was well done by Michelle Moran.

Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

One of my all time favorite movies was and still is The Sound of Music - it is a tradition to watch the movie during the Christmas season, not sure why since the movie release in March of 1965. Back in 1965 I even read The Story of the Trapp Family Singers written by the Baroness – which painted a somewhat different story then the one presented in the movie. Before the movie, The Sound of Music was a musical; music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, it opened in 1959 on Broadway starring Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel.

Maria by Michelle Moran is the story, historical fiction by nature, is Maria’s life story as told to Fran Connelly when one annoyed Maria von Trapp contacts Mr. Hammerstein about the inaccurate script about her life and that of her family. Through a serious of meeting Fran meets with Maria to listen and make notes on her suggestions. There is next to anything that Maria likes about this script especially when it comes to her husband Captain Georg von Trapp.

Michelle Moran alternates between two voices, that of Fran in 1959 in conversation with Maria and Maria telling her life story from 1913 through 1938. From that of a little girl in Kagran, Austria, to a young twenty-one year old postulant in the Nonnberg Abbey, to being sent to the von Trapp house for a ten month teaching assignment to finally becoming Baroness von Trapp with seven children and finally their escape in 1938 on the last train out of Austria to Italy. Maria also tells her story of her time in America, travelling the country as a singing family choir to finally buying a family farm in Vermont.

Maria was truly an interesting look at a family that was portrayed differently on stage and screen. About a lyricist, Hammerstein, that was dying of cancer and after reading Maria’s story decided ..

“But perhaps I have one more song to write. Something for all … All the difficult goodbyes.”

And that song is … Edelweiss.

Thank you, Michelle Moran, Dell and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was released on July 30, 2024.


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I've seen The Sound of Music countless times, so I couldn't help but picture Julie Andrews as I read this novel. Of course, I know that is the opposite of what the book wanted me to think, but I couldn't help it. This book is supposed to be about the differences between Maria's real story and the Rodgers and Hammerstein version. In fact, the story comes about as Maria is trying to get an assistant to the production team to rewrite the fictionalized version as she tells the assistant the "real" version. While still a fictional account of Maria's life, it still was different from the musical version we've all come to know. If you loved the movie, I recommend this book even if it's just to get more historical background than we ever saw with the glossed over Hollywood version.

Well, don't I feel like a dork. I had no idea that The Sound of Music was based on real people. Not sure how I missed that fact.

I found this to be interesting book. The Von Trapp family without a doubt did not have an easy life. Maria's early life was one that no child should endure. The fact that they were on the last train out of Austria before Germany closed the borders is profound.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Michelle Moran’s gripping new novel Maria (whose subject, Maria von Trapp, will be recognizable from the beautiful cover) left me pondering the reasons why people choose to tell the stories they do. In 1959, as Oscar Hammerstein is finalizing the lyrics for a Broadway musical about her life, Maria writes him a letter requesting a meeting. She doesn’t like the way her family is being depicted in the play, especially how her late husband, Georg, is shown as a strict disciplinarian.

Hammerstein sends his assistant, Fran Connelly (a fictional character), to meet with Maria and hopefully assuage her concerns, plus prevent any potential bad press. Maria’s tale then unfolds in the first person, beginning when she, as a postulant at Nonnberg Abbey, was sent to tutor one of the daughters of Baron Georg von Trapp, a war hero and widower. Maria re-introduces his seven children to music and the simple joys of playtime. This aspect doesn’t diverge far from the play and film, but later parts of Maria’s life are a different story.

The Christmas holidays in the von Trapp household are recreated in such idyllic scenes that even the nonreligious will be tempted to book a trip to Salzburg next winter! But the real Maria was a complicated woman, shown here with considerable complexity, who endured physical abuse by a relative as a child. While her ambitions for the family’s singing careers may have saved them, her domineering behavior caused mental anguish for her own children.

Readers will grasp the amusing irony that this is a novel about a woman who resisted being fictionalized. Yet Maria succeeds in presenting a well-rounded, nuanced portrait that draws its information from multiple sources, since no one account (not even Maria’s autobiographies) presents a complete image of her character. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves biographical fiction, and it provides understanding about why The Sound of Music took the fictional liberties that it did.

Maria is the historical fiction version of the story of Maria Von Trapp of Sound of Music fame. This is the story of Maria's unhappiness with the inaccuracies of how Rodgers and Hammerstein told her family story. Maria Von Trapp has written memoirs and this book is consistent with those memoirs so it is well-researched. The use of the third person to tell the story didn't draw me in as much as I wanted but all in all it is a well-written book. It's 3.5 stars for me rounding up to 4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Maria in exchange for an honest review. This book is available now.

The Sound of Music has been one of my favorite musicals since I was a little girl, and the von Trapp family has never been more beautifully portrayed as they are in Michelle Moran's extraordinary new novel, Maria. When Maria leaves the nunnery on a temporary mission to teach the seven children of Georg, a widow who travels extensively, she never expects to fall in love with each and every von Trapp child. They are enamored by her incredible talent, her creativity, and her fun-loving spirit. Before long, Georg is head over heels and Maria is faced with the difficult decision of remaining with the von Trapps or continuing her path toward becoming a nun. For all Sound of Music fans, we know what choice she made... but if you're like me, you probably had no idea the obstacles that she faced both before and after becoming a wife, a mother, and a successful musician.

We also meet Fran, who works for Oscar Hammerstein and is tasked with getting Maria's side of the story before the musical premieres. Maria expresses her disappointment in the way that her husband is portrayed and she also wants several details to be changed before opening night. Fran is determined to help bring the most accurate depiction of the von Trapps' unbelievable journey to the stage.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Maria, one of Michelle Moran's most captivating works of historical fiction to date.

4.5 stars

It was not that long ago that I found out the family from The Sound of Music existed in real life. So you could only imagine my excitement to get to learn more about the real Maria von Trapp, albeit in a historical fiction setting.

Maria by Michelle Moran tells the story of the woman who inspired one of the most successful Broadway plays and films of all time. But if you think you know her and her family, think again. (That’s basically the premise of the book.) The story expands from Maria’s lonely childhood to after the escape from Austria and the family resettling in the US.

The only drawbacks I found are 1) I don’t really understand the plotline as to why Maria is telling her story. The reason the book gives doesn’t seem to be convincing enough, especially with how Maria reacts to the musical in the end. And 2) the ending to the book feels anticlimactic. I really thought there would be more of an epilogue between the last chapter and the author’s note.

Regardless, whether you’re a huge fan or you’ve at least heard of The Sound of Music, this book is for you. There is a reason why filmmakers and producers fell in love with this story. Like the person, Maria the novel is a dynamic force that will sweep you off your feet.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for sharing this digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Maria by Michelle Moran is available now wherever books are sold.

This is really such a sweet, confection of historical fiction written in service of a beloved film, SOUND OF MUSIC, that there is little to detract from it. MARIA: A NOVEL OF MARIA VON TRAPP is the backstory to the movie/play but really it differs only slightly from the movie, one I saw at least 6 times as a child and probably another 4 with other children as an adult. It is a fast book and I read it in one sitting. I enjoyed it and had no difficulty keeping up with a tale I have not thought about in decades. For lovers of SOUND OF MUSIC, this is a fan’s delight. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.