Please Note: I received an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
A life in snapshots…
Grace
knows what people see. She’s the Cinderella story. An icon of glamor
and elegance frozen in dazzling Technicolor. The picture of perfection.
The girl in white gloves.
A woman in living color…
But
behind the lens, beyond the panoramic views of glistening Mediterranean
azure, she knows the truth. The sacrifices it takes for an
unappreciated girl from Philadelphia to defy her family and become the
reigning queen of the screen. The heartbreaking reasons she trades
Hollywood for a crown. The loneliness of being a princess in a fairy
tale kingdom that is all too real.
Hardest of all for her adoring
fans and loyal subjects to comprehend, is the harsh reality that to be
the most envied woman in the world does not mean she is the happiest.
Starved for affection and purpose, facing a labyrinth of romantic and
social expectations with more twists and turns than Monaco’s infamous
winding roads, Grace must find her own way to fulfillment. But what she
risks--her art, her family, her marriage—she may never get back.
Review:
I have always found Grace Kelly to be fascinating. She was so impossibly glamorous, first as a movie star, and then as an actual princess! Plus one of her daughters (Stephanie) is my age. So when I saw an historical fiction about her life, you bet I requested it!
I found this book to be quite enjoyable, with many references to all the many lovers, and famous people in Grace Kelly's life. But I couldn't give this a perfect rating. It must be really difficult making a story out of someone's actual life. And everything leading up to her marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco was filled with tension and drama. But after that, the "story" had nowhere to really go.
What I Liked:
A Look at Old New York & Hollywood:
I was right there with Grace when she was a young girl in big old NYC. The author catpured how exciting it was to be young and full of promise in a big city.
When she goes to Los Angeles to film movies, she also sees the particular charm of Southern California. The warm weather, and the more relaxed atmosphere, must have been such a breath of fresh air for a young woman like Grace.
Social Limitations for Women:
The novel also did a very good job of showing how women navigated the sticky world of men in power. Grace learned from a young age to not make a fuss when talking to a man. She saw (sadly) how fragile men's egos were, and that it did no good to directly demand what she wanted. But she found other ways to assert herself. She insisted on reading all her contracts, and carefully negotiated on the parts that mattered to her the most. And while she was affected by her parents strict Catholic morals, she didn't let that stop her from letting love into her life.
What I Was Mixed About:
Historical Details:
I really didn't get a sense of the historical time periods in this book. Yes, there were many references to the clothing of the time (after all, Grace Kelly was a fashion icon). And there were plenty of references to how women were treated by men. These were explored thoroughly.
But this story spans from 1949 to 1982. I never got the sense that anything changed in those 32 years. Think of all the innovations, and social changes that happened during that time. I would have really liked to have seen Grace react to some of those changes.
What I Didn't Like:
Story:
As I said in the introduction, everything leading up to her marriage to the Prince was filled with excitement and tension. But then...
via GIPHY
The only tension was in her marriage with Rainier, because they had grown apart over the years. We all know that she never made another film after she became a Princess. Why toy with the reader to make us believe she would make another movie? It made Grace look naive to say that she didn't know what she was giving up. And after creating such a portrait of a strong-minded woman, I found this hard to accept.
Rating:
Release Date: February 25th, 2020
Author: Kerri Maher
Publisher: Berkley Press
Genre: Historical Fiction
Page Length: 384 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation:
An entertaining look at the life of legendary film star, Grace Kelly. Very enjoyable, but I wish there were more historical details.
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Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.
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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