Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark #partner, for the advanced e-copy of The Kennedy Girl in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Published: January 14, 2025
Summary:
From esteemed author Julia Bryan Thomas comes a novel for readers who loved the fashion and glamour of The Second Life of Mirielle West and the clandestine intrigue of The Secrets We Kept, showcasing a journey to France through the eyes of a wide-eyed American orphan who becomes embroiled in an international espionage scheme.
This American Girl in Paris might hold the fate of nations…
It’s the 1960s, and the fashion culture of New York, Paris, and Milan is starting to make an impression on the mid-century American woman. Jackie Kennedy’s effortless style leads the nation, although Mia’s bustling bakery job doesn’t often give her the time or money to craft a stylish closet after her idol in the White House. But when a mysterious stranger suddenly offers her a modeling job in Paris at the esteemed House of Rousseau, she takes a chance on it, despite knowing nothing about the world of fashion. As an orphan with big dreams, holding a one-way plane ticket to Paris, she sets off for what she hopes is a better life.
But the job of a model runs deeper than photoshoots and runway walks, and as Mia adjusts to the Parisienne lifestyle, she realizes that not everything is as it seems. Becoming more and more successful in her position as an up-and-coming model, she is soon drawn into the Cold War by the very fashion house she works for. And as she finds herself falling further into national crimes and politics, Mia will soon have to decide which side of history she’s really on.
Jackie Kennedy is no longer the only woman for whom fashion and politics dramatically collide…
The Kennedy Girl is an immersive and heart-pounding story perfect for history buffs and armchair travelers alike, with glimpses into both the propulsive Cold War era of espionage and the inner-workings of the most prestigious Parisian fashion houses.
My thoughts:
This was definitely a case of me needing to read anything having to do with the Kennedy’s, especially Jackie Kennedy as to why I requested this one. Color me surprised when this turned out to be more than just a light-hearted historical fiction novel! This was one time when I definitely did not read anything about the book before going into it and I loved it even more than I thought I would!
This is a slow-burn historical thriller that takes us into the world of fashion in Paris with a side of espionage during the Cold War and I could not have been more engaged in this story. The Cold War is one time period in history that I have really come to love reading about, especially when women are involved, and I loved how the author played around with that here.
The first part of the book really sets us up for what is to come, laying the foundation, introducing us to the characters and the setting. And during this time, there is an underlying hint that something sinister is about to come, but you aren’t quite sure what. Then in the second half of the book, the espionage part really takes off and at that point, I could not put the book down! I had no idea what would happen next or how it would all play out and I needed answers!
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it definitely won’t be the last!
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