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Synopsis (From Goodreads):
London, 1938. The effervescent "It girl" of London society since her father was named the ambassador, Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy moves in rarified circles, rubbing satin-covered elbows with some of the 20th century's most powerful figures. Eager to escape the watchful eye of her strict mother, Rose, the antics of her older brothers, Jack and Joe, and the erratic behavior of her sister Rosemary, Kick is ready to strike out on her own and is soon swept off her feet by Billy Hartington, the future Duke of Devonshire. But their love is forbidden, as Kick's devout Catholic family and Billy's staunchly Protestant one would never approve their match. When war breaks like a tidal wave across her world, Billy is ripped from her arms as the Kennedys are forced to return to the States. Kick gets work as a journalist and joins the Red Cross to get back to England, where she will have to decide where her true loyalties lie--with family or with love . . .
Review:
The Kennedy Debutante has all the elements of a sweeping romantic novel: a fiery heroine, a dashing young noble, and an almost impossible choice set among the backdrop of WWII. What makes this book even more compelling is that it's based on a true story. This is a truly enjoyable book of historical fiction.
What I Liked:
Setting:As an young, wealthy American, Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy is the toast of London in 1939. Through Kick we see glittering nightclubs, posh country parties, and behind the scenes politics.
Later, when WWII break out, the action takes place in both America and England. There were wonderful details of fashion, food, and strict etiquette throughout the story. Plus other members of Kick's famous family show up, such as Jack, Bobby, and Teddy. These little glimpses of Kennedy life are very telling of how those famous brother behaved later in life (lots of dad's secret/not so secret mistresses).
Characters:
Kick is a compelling character. She craves independence, but also the elusive approval of her mother. With her strict Catholic upbringing, she is conflicted about her choices when it comes to romance. I also liked that she was a fiercely loyal friend who went out of her way for others.
Kick's mother, Rose, is also complicated. While she is a strong woman raising nine children, you would think she would be all loving and nurturing, right? Not so! Rose was a staunch Catholic rule follower, and any female who deviated from that was mercilessly cut off. Of course, her husband and sons broke the rules all the time. But perhaps her tough love approach is a way of protecting her daughters reputations, as women who got out of line were outcasts in their world.
Billy is the dashing young noble who captures Kick's heart. He is shy when we first meet him. But as the war progresses, Billy begins to understand his duty to his family and his country. Can he marry a Catholic?
Conflict:
The main personal conflict for Kick is whether or not she should marry Billy who is a Protestant. This may not seem like a big deal, but for a Kennedy, the world's most famous Catholics, it is earth-shattering. Will she turn her back on her family for love? Can she compromise her beliefs? As a Catholic myself, I understand this problem only too well.
Faith:
Kick's faith is beautifully represented. Prayer, church attendance, and seeking the advice of priests are integral aspects of her life. Billy's family is also shown to be solid Protestants. I love books where people are living their faith, whatever it may be.
Romance:
The romance is sweeping in this book. Just as Kick and Billy become serious, WWII breaks out and she is forced to move back to America. Even though it seems impossible, both Kick and Billy yearn for each other over the years. Without giving spoilers, I will say that there is some major heartbreak in this book. I was crying by the end of this book.
What I Was Mixed About:
Pacing:The story was very slow at the beginning, focusing on the many parties attended by Kick and the social connections she formed. Maybe, I didn't respond to this because I didn't know who these people were. But reading this left me with a feeling that Kick was a very superficial person as a teenager.
Kick does mature and start to see the bigger picture as the story progresses. Perhaps this was the goal of the first part of the story?
WWII:
Even though I knew that Kick and her society friends were wealthy, I was surprised that the characters didn't seem to feel any of the pains of food shortages and the Blitz. These were alluded to only briefly in the book, but I wish there would have been more on the civilian impact of the war.
Rating:
Release Date: October 2nd, 2018
Author: Kerri Maher
Publisher: Berkeley Books
Genre: Historical Fiction
Page Length: 384 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: Despite it's slow start, this is a compelling fictionalized account of the Kennedy sister we never knew.
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