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avigail's review against another edition
4.5
I heard many good things about Fiona Davis's writing. I also know that she picks a building in New York that becomes a character of the story. The Chelsea Girls is set at the beginning of the Cold War and the dark days in the United States when people accused people of being communists. Reading a historical fiction novel set after WWII and during the Cold War is fascinating. The Red Scare is a scary time because you don't know who you can trust and who you can't. I like Maxine & Hazel's friendship, and sometimes I was mad at Maxine's naivety. Hazel is a person who lets people push over, but she finds her voice by writing a solid play, and she finds her voice to defend her beliefs. If you are in the mood for a richly detailed portrayal of the Chelsea Hotel and its inhabitants, this novel promises to be a captivating and emotional read.
booklover000's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This one’s definitely a slow burn, but the characters and setting outweighed the pacing for me! This is essentially a look at women’s roles and opportunities in 1950s NYC during McCarthyism. It’s about friendship, political pressure, the arts, and freedom.
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis takes us back in time with Hazel Ripley and Maxine Mead. From 1945 through the late 1960s we join Hazel and Maxine on their journeys. Hazel joined the USO in 1945 to finally get a chance to be on stage instead of being an understudy. She meets Maxine Mead in Italy where she is the star performer of their all-female troupe. A terrible incident forms a bond between the ladies that aids them in their careers. The Chelsea Hotel in New York City is a haven for creative types (writers, artists, musicians, actors, singers, etc.). Hazel ends up at the Chelsea Hotel in 1950 when she needs a place to write a play that is bursting to come out. Maxine needs an escape from California and soon joins her. Hazel’s play is about to be produced when communism rears its ugly head and FBI agents are patrolling the Great White Way. The 1950s is not the best time to be in the entertainment industry as Senator McCarthy begins his witch hunt for communists. Many careers are ruined in McCarthy’s search. I thought The Chelsea Girls was well-written with developed characters. The author provides detailed descriptions which brings the characters and scenes to life. The pacing was gentle which went with the story. I like how the author made the Chelsea a character. It became a living and breathing entity. We get to know its history of the establishment along with the various characters who have lived and worked there. I enjoyed the variety of intriguing and lively characters that inhabited the hotel. It was interesting learning more about Broadway and how a play comes to life. Fiona Davis captured the time period along the feelings of the people being questioned and persecuted by McCarthy. The emotions poured from the pages. It was fascinating to read about this time period. It is not an era that is usually addressed in fiction. I liked that there was a good twist later in the book. We get to see two women whose friendship is tested during a tumultuous time. I do not want to say too much and spoil the story for you. The Chelsea Girls is a complex novel that transports readers to New York City during the 1950s and early 1960s. I am curious where Fiona Davis will take us next time.
terraturtles's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
leding's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
3.0
erins11's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: War, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Minor: Homophobia and Violence
mbkarapcik's review against another edition
3.0
I cannot feel much passion about this ambitious novel that focuses on an actress and a playwright who become good friends during a USO tour in Italy during World War Two. Fast forward to the 1950s and the Red Scare that whipped through the entertainment community and America, and you see the two main characters living at the Chelsea Hotel among many artists, musicians, poets, and playwrights. Everyone appears to be a suspected communist. I felt bored by the whole McCarthyism plot and found the twist for one character forced. It came out of nowhere.
Not enough romance to tart up the book and move things along, but the author's writing style is eloquent. The passages in between the chapters about the ghosts of the hotel fell flat and seemed unnecessary. I also thought that the central character, which I assumed was the hotel, wasn't featured enough to merit the title. I will say, though, that it is admirable that the author wrote a story about this time period, which I rarely come across, and did make a friendship between two women the focus of the book.
Not enough romance to tart up the book and move things along, but the author's writing style is eloquent. The passages in between the chapters about the ghosts of the hotel fell flat and seemed unnecessary. I also thought that the central character, which I assumed was the hotel, wasn't featured enough to merit the title. I will say, though, that it is admirable that the author wrote a story about this time period, which I rarely come across, and did make a friendship between two women the focus of the book.