I was given an ARC of this book for a review.

In this offering from Ms. Meissner (coming out in March 2025) we are in Malibu, Californis in 1956. Three displaced women come together and develop a friendship though they have very different lives.

Melanie Cole is a blacklisted actress in hiding in Malibu. Next door lives June and her screenwriter brother-in-law Elwood. Melanie has become friends with Elwood (a recluse who never leaves his house except to sit outside or tend to his roses). She looks to Elwood for advice about her career. Sudden Elwood never appears outside and won't answer her calls. Melanie begins to worry about what might be wrong and sends her cleaning lady Eva (an immigrant from war-torn Europe herself) over to help out at the neighboring house. Melanie instructs Eva to find a way to check up on Elwood. Pick up a copy of this entertaining book to find out how the ladies ultimately become friends and what happened to Elwood.

I have mixed feelings about the book as a whole. A Map to Paradise follows three different women and their stories. The three different stories felt so different from each other and I found myself wanting to hear more from one story over the others. In the end, I could see how the three stories partially connected, but it left me feeling lopsided most of the way through. I really didn't like how sin/wrongdoing was justified as ok for one of the characters and she ended up getting away with her lying and sin. Furthermore, this character was even rewarded with a happy filled end of life story. That was really the biggest issue I had. The story would have been a higher rating from me if the language (from speech) could have been taken out, and that instead of the character getting away with her sin/wrongdoing, maybe leaning more into trust and hope for what is right to play out instead of taking matters into her own hands and getting away and even getting rewarded for it. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Susan Meissner has some wonderful books that I thoroughly enjoyed, do go check out her work!

I was amazed at how skillfully the author merged the lives of three brave and strong women into a single compelling drama I couldn’t put down. It was clear from the start that each character had their own point of view. For me this made the tale more personal. This gripping novel covers so much more than just communists, sacrifice, and love. As it unfolds, each woman gains the courage to face their fears and gets tougher and stronger as they face more challenges.


This story is beautifully written and includes likeable, flawed characters going through unbelievable situations that have turned their worlds upside down.

Melanie Cole is an actress on the Hollywood blacklist; June Blankenship looks after her brother-in-law (who hasn’t left the house in years); she helps him write his manuscripts, and Eva, the housekeeper, has lost her family and seen things no one should. This story is loosely based on real events and unfolds in unexpected ways.

Melanie, June, and Eva will stay in your heart and mind long after you close the book. Be warned; you’ll be up late reading this one. This novel makes a great book club pick; it’s a rich story filled with so much to discuss. If you haven’t read novels by this author before, I highly recommend this novel to start with.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN: Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

Susan Meissner’s A Map to Paradise is a spellbinding tale of secrets, survival, and unlikely alliances set against the sun-drenched yet shadowed backdrop of 1956 Malibu. With Hollywood starlet Melanie Cole navigating life on the blacklist, a war-scarred housekeeper, Eva, and a mysterious disappearance in their secluded Paradise Circle, Meissner masterfully unravels a plot brimming with intrigue and emotional depth. The nuanced relationships between the three women, bound by circumstance yet divided by their own guarded truths, are at the heart of this riveting narrative. Meissner’s atmospheric prose and her ability to blend suspense with poignant reflections on identity and trust make this book an unforgettable journey. It’s no wonder this earned a solid 5 stars and a spot on my favorites list.

I loved Susan Meissner's The Nature of Fragile Things and Only The Beautiful, but this one was just okay - not great, not terrible. Because I wasn't loving it, it took me almost two weeks to get through 352 pages. The story centers around the blacklisting that took place in Hollywood in the 1950's. Melanie Cole has just experienced her first success as a movie actress when her co-star Carson Edwards is accused of associating with communists. Because she's kind-of dating Carson, Melanie is also suspected of communist ties and therefore can't get any kind of acting role in Hollywood. Carson rents a house for Melanie on Paradise Circle in Malibu so she can lay low until all of this blows over. Melanie befriends her next-door neighbor Elwood Blankenship who's a screenwriter confined to his house by agoraphobia. Elwood becomes Melanie's friend and advisor. One day early in the morning, Melanie and her housekeeper Eva see Elwood's sister-in-law June (who lives with him and takes care of him) digging in Elwood's rose garden. They don't see Elwood any more after this. As Melanie and Eva try to find out what happened to Elwood, many secrets being kept by all 3 women are revealed. I just couldn't really get into the story or invested in the characters and that was really disappointing. Susan Meissner is an excellent writer though, so I'm looking forward to her next book. Thanks to #netgalley and #Berkley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book and it is definitely one of my favorites by Ms. Meissner!!

*This novel covers a time period not often written about in the fiction that I’ve read. We are in the 1950’s when McCarthyism was in full swing. During “The Red Scare” McCarthy and others were convinced that communists had infiltrated our government, the Army and the entertainment industry - in particular Hollywood’s screenwriters and actors.

*The setting of early Malibu when it was a beautiful and uncrowded haven for the wealthy was very well described.

*The three main characters were all outstanding :

Melanie - a young and recently successful actress is blacklisted because she was seen in the company of “suspected” communists. She is staying at a rented home in Malibu to be free of prying eyes in Hollywood.

Eva - a young Polish immigrant is hired as Melanie’s housekeeper and cook. She has many secrets which she hoped to leave behind in her new life in the US.

June - is Melanie’s neighbor in Malibu, she is caring for her brother-in-law, Elwood, an accomplished screenwriter.

*A wildfire is roaring towards Malibu and everyone is ordered to evacuate.

I thought the pace of the story was great and the backstories of all of the characters were fascinating. What a diverse group of women who eventually become friends and help each other.

If you enjoy historical fiction of the 1950’s in the US you will enjoy this one. Strong women who are intent on surviving their own tragedies with the help of each other present a story of friendship, resilience and hope. A great page turner of a novel!

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

Review coming soon!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Opinions are mine.

Susan Meissner is a go-to author for me. I always love how she weaves together a story using multiple perspectives, and this story is no different. The backdrop of old Hollywood during the Cold War was a unique setting and I loved how it allowed for each character to slowly reveal their individual story. This book has it all—mystery, love and heartbreak combined.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Map to Paradise. The story was about the lives of three women in the 1950's living in Hollywood during the height of the Blacklist. The cast of characters includes Melanie, an actress, had ties to an actor who was under investigation, Eva worked as a maid and was hiding her past from World War II and June who was mourning the death of her husband and taking care of his twin brother. The story was developed as we learn each woman's story. The book shows us Hollywood during a historic and paranoid time. Great read.

I was lucky enough to win an eARC of A MAP TO PARADISE by Susan Meissner through a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thanks for the early look, and have a safe and happy holiday season!

I enjoyed the time period and setting of this historical fiction story. The three main characters came from different backgrounds yet highlighted the struggles of women in the 1950's. There was a bit of a mystery which kept the plot moving. I enjoyed the book.

📖 ARC Review

PUB Date : Mar 17th 2025

🌹 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 if this book is not on your radar and you like historical mystery fiction , then add this to your TBR!!

Wow , just wow 👏 This book was a pleasant surprise, I had never read this author before but the synopsis caught my eye so I requested it from NetGalley and I’m so thankful for the grant !

This story is about three of the most unlikely woman who find friendship within one another during the most darkest times .

Read this book if you like :
🐈 Historical Fiction
🐈 Mystery
🐈 Smart Dialogue
🐈 Hope
🐈 Political Topics
🐈 Likeable Characters
🐈 Multiple POV
🐈 Strong Women
🐈 Past & Present Timelines
🐈 Vividly Climatic

“Sometimes you belong only to the moment, Eva thinks as they turn to follow the man, and that one singular snippet of time owns your fate. You belong only to that moment and to nowhere else.
And then sometimes the moment belongs to you .”

I don’t want to give too much away but the story bounces back and forth between three strong smart loveable women who are all juggling life in the mid 50’s and dealing with tough circumstances.

As each one holds their cards close to their hearts , slowly over time they revel themselves only to realize that maybe they aren’t so different from one another after and all and maybe just maybe they can navigate this wild fire together?

Will the past comeback to haunt these three women or will they each have a happy ending, you NEED to read this one for yourself to find out what happens !

…and if you need more convincing check out my aesthetic photos 📸

Thank you NetGalley , Berkely Publishing Group & Susan Meissner for this taunting ARC !

This is a compelling read about the lengths we'll go to survive hate and the strength we get when we lean into love. I enjoyed watching unexpected friendships forge, and seeing each character confront the things that were holding her back so that she could move forward. I wouldn't have minded a little more mid-century California (could just be me), but the nature of the story dictated the close setting, which I understand. Overall, a great read.

I received an ARC of this book; opinions are my own.

A good example of a book type: strong female characters in an historical setting that face adversity and succeed. The plot twists were surprising and mostly believable, and the dialogue rang true. Almost everything tied up nicely in the end. I could see this one adapted to screen.

A Map to Paradise Is engulfed In many mystery situations. The characters are secretly holding many unsolved Issues and through these mysteries friendships are developed and lies and secrets revealed that keep the reader riveted to see the plot unfold in this historically based novel. Excitingly stimulating read.

4.5 stars.

✨In true Susan Meissner fashion, this book has it all – mystery, intrigue, love and loss and strong female friendships. All of these elements are set against a historical backdrop in a setting with a vivid sense of place.

✨I so loved the richly drawn cast of characters in these pages. They all have a past they want to keep secret, and the author weaves these stories together masterfully. By the end, all of the puzzle pieces fit, and the ending is perfectly satisfying.

✨ You can’t read a Meissner book without feeling all of the emotions, and this one is no different. Very heartfelt.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Strong female characters
✨Stories of McCarthyism, the Red Scare and Hollywood blacklisting
✨Old Hollywood
✨Historical fiction
✨Malibu settings
✨50s nostalgia

Highly recommend!

My thanks to @berkleypub and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

This was an entertaining historical women’s fiction read. I enjoyed how the story interwove the story of three unique different women into one book and purpose. Each woman was caught in their own predicament in the late 1950’s in Hollywood and they each dealt with so much. Each woman had a lesson to learn, and their journey on how they did that was interesting. It was on the slower side of pacing, and at time I felt my mind wandering. But each time I was drawn back to the delicate storytelling that was happening, and I was quickly engaged again. I read and adored another book by this author, and I feel that this one was slightly different. The story wasn’t as captivating for me as that one was. The subject matter was quite different, so that could be it, as I did still feel that the author’s writing was good. However, that did take away from my reading experience a little. The mystery element was entertaining, and I enjoyed the reveal.

I love the way Susan Meissner weaves together the stories of three ladies who all have different backgrounds yet come together for one purpose.

I'm a big Meissner fan but have to admit this wasn't my favorite of her books. It's a story about three women, each caught in her own tangled web of misfortune in the Hollywood of the late 50s: Melanie, an actress whose newly blooming career gets cut short when she is put on the communist black list for no more than an association with someone suspected of communist sympathies; Eva a Polish immigrant whose past is absolutely not what describes; and June, the sister-in-law of an ever more reclusive screen writer who retreats further and further into a private grief. I liked the end but I'm afraid I didn't really warm to any of the characters and I found the prose to be repetitive, taking a little too long for the women to learn the lessons that they are clearly meant to learn. I usually learn a lot from Meissner's historical settings but this one not so much. I think this book will appeal to others who are more interested in drama than historical settings or internal insights.

I won't post my review as it is not very positive.

I love this author. Probably not my favorite book by her, but I still enjoyed it. I always like reading about Hollywood stories from the mid 1900s, and this one brough a history lesson as well. I wish we'd known Elwood before his disappearance. It felt like that would have made things a little more meaningful. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.