The Chelsea Girls

Trigger warning: suicide, drug overdose

Post contains affiliate links; read my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Hazel and Maxine have big Broadway dreams while living at the Chelsea Hotel.

1945: The book begins in Italy during World War II, where Hazel is performing for the USO. There she meets tough-as-nails Maxine, who is running the show. Maxine tells Hazel about the Chelsea Hotel in New York City. Hazel has an encounter with a young German boy that inspires her to write a play.

1950: After the war, Hazel returns to New York and Maxine goes to LA. Hazel has a fight with her overbearing mother, so she leaves and checks in to the Chelsea Hotel. There she makes connections in the industry and is able to get her script to New York producers. Maxine comes to visit Hazel and stays a while at the Chelsea.

Suspicion is everywhere in America; people have joined the Communist party and are selling secrets to Russia. The lens of suspicion falls on Broadway, and the fear affects Hazel's production. Hazel follows a man who has an epileptic seizure; the man turns out to be an agent for the House Un-American Activities Committee named Charlie. He comes to the play's rehearsals to inspect the production and cast for communist activity.

1967: Hazel is still living in the Chelsea Hotel, but the atmosphere of the place has changed. The residents are more likely to be rock stars or film stars than composers or stage actors. The theatre world has returned to normal after the scares of communism. Maxine has left for California and is a big movie star.

The women's stories have highs and lows, in turns tragic and triumphant. Their friendship is sometimes close and other times nonexistent. For the entirety of their story, the Chelsea Hotel is a silent observer.

Kirsten Potter and Hillary Huber are good narrators, and having Hazel and Maxine's chapters read by different readers helps to tell them apart. Some lines are quieter than others and can be hard to hear if you leave the book at one volume.

Recommended for fans of midcentury historical fiction or New York City. Readers who enjoy the espionage involved during the era of communist fears in America will also appreciate the novel.

Fiona Davis is a former actress, editor, and journalist. She holds degrees from the Columbia Journalism School and the College of William and Mary (go Tribe!).

Publisher: Dutton (print); Penguin Audio (audiobook)

Narrator: Kirsten Potter & Hillary Huber

Running Time: 10 hours, 31 minutes

Length: 368 pages

Release Date: July 30, 2019 (paperback December 8, 2020)

You may also enjoy:

I received an electronic galley copy of this title from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I checked out the audiobook from my local library and listened to the title instead. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.