Based on the history of the Chelsea Hotel in New York, an avant garde for artists and bohemians, I expected this book to be lively and eccentric. But I went into the book blind, something I often prefer, which made my assumption completely inaccurate. This book is a dark tale about a dark and troubling period of our history- McCarthyism. Hazel and Maxine are friends and creatives, drawn to the Chelsea, it’s mystic and inspiration. Hazel has just written the next big Broadway hit, and Maxine shows exceptional talent as the leading lady in a remarkably different role than she normally plays. Just as their hard work begins to pay off and allow them to enjoy success, the paranoia of communism dulls their accomplishments. 

Hazel’s story is an ode to the many who suffered at the hands of this nations worst tendencies. It exposes how a society was corrupted from the inside out during the decade that the House Un-American Activities Committee waged war on the entertainment industry blacklisting individuals and derailing careers. 

The Chelsea Hotel was an intriguing backdrop for this story. It gave a charm to the story which counterbalanced the dark time period. I found myself wanting to meander through its halls and be amongst the brilliance of its inhabitants. Oh to have been there in it’s heyday! 

While the hotel itself brought charisma to the tale, the characters themselves fell flat and one dimensional to me. The storyline itself appeared to be the author’s primary focus, leaving her to tell us about the characters rather than showing us their multidimensional nature. We never truly got to know them intimately. Hazel experiences much devastation. I knew that about her, but I wanted to feel it for her. 

I read historical fiction extensively, but this is my very first book from the McCarthy era. Bravo to Davis for bringing it to the forefront! 

Many thanks to Fiona Davis, Penguin Group Dutton, Dutton Books, and NetGalley for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.