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Jackie
In this mesmerizing novel about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, acclaimed author Dawn Tripp has crafted an intimate story of love and power, family and tragedy, loss and reinvention.
The world has divided my life into three:
Life with Jack
Life with Onassis
Life as a woman who goes to work because she wants to.
My life is all of these things, and it is none of these things. They continue to miss what’s right in front of them. I love books. I love the sea. I love horses. Children. Art. Ideas. History. Beauty. Because beauty blows us open to wonder.
Even the beauty that breaks your heart.
Jackie is the story of a woman—deeply private with a nuanced, formidable intellect—who forged a legacy out of grief and shaped history even as she was living it. It is the story of a love affair, a complicated marriage, and the fracturing of identity that comes in the wake of unthinkable violence.
When Jackie meets the charismatic congressman Jack Kennedy in Georgetown, she is twenty-one and dreaming of France. She has won an internship at Vogue. Kennedy, she thinks, is not her kind of adventure: “Too American. Too good-looking. Too boy.” Yet she is drawn to his mind, his humor, his drive. The chemistry between them ignites. During the White House years, the love between two independent people deepens. Then, a motorcade in Dallas: “Three and a half seconds—that’s all it was—a slivered instant between the first shot, which missed the car, and the second, which did not. . . . A hypnotic burst of sunlight off her bracelet as she waved.”
This vivid, exquisitely written novel is at once a captivating work of the imagination and a window into the world of a woman who led many lives: Jackie, Jacks, Jacqueline, Miss Bouvier, Mrs. Kennedy, Jackie O.
The world has divided my life into three:
Life with Jack
Life with Onassis
Life as a woman who goes to work because she wants to.
My life is all of these things, and it is none of these things. They continue to miss what’s right in front of them. I love books. I love the sea. I love horses. Children. Art. Ideas. History. Beauty. Because beauty blows us open to wonder.
Even the beauty that breaks your heart.
Jackie is the story of a woman—deeply private with a nuanced, formidable intellect—who forged a legacy out of grief and shaped history even as she was living it. It is the story of a love affair, a complicated marriage, and the fracturing of identity that comes in the wake of unthinkable violence.
When Jackie meets the charismatic congressman Jack Kennedy in Georgetown, she is twenty-one and dreaming of France. She has won an internship at Vogue. Kennedy, she thinks, is not her kind of adventure: “Too American. Too good-looking. Too boy.” Yet she is drawn to his mind, his humor, his drive. The chemistry between them ignites. During the White House years, the love between two independent people deepens. Then, a motorcade in Dallas: “Three and a half seconds—that’s all it was—a slivered instant between the first shot, which missed the car, and the second, which did not. . . . A hypnotic burst of sunlight off her bracelet as she waved.”
This vivid, exquisitely written novel is at once a captivating work of the imagination and a window into the world of a woman who led many lives: Jackie, Jacks, Jacqueline, Miss Bouvier, Mrs. Kennedy, Jackie O.
496 pages, Hardcover
First published June 18, 2024
About the author
Dawn Tripp
8 books286 followersDawn Tripp is the author of Georgia, a national bestseller, finalist for the New England Book Award, and winner of the Mary Lynn Kotz Award for Art in Literature. Georgia has been described as "complex and original" by the New York Times Book Review and "magical and provocative" by USA Today. Tripp is the author of three previous novels: Moon Tide, Game of Secrets, and The Season of Open Water, which won the Massachusetts Book Award for Fiction. Her fifth novel Jackie will be published in June 2024.
www.DawnTripp.com
www.DawnTripp.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
June 20, 2024
Doris Kearns Goodwin, who knew Jackie, once said: “Culturally something happened between her and the decade that she lived in . . .”
Everyday I signed into NetGalley to see if I was approved for this book. One of my most anticipated reads this year…I was beyond excited when I finally got the approval.
”We are made of stars and I loved you from the first moment I saw you. I loved you even knowing it would break something in me.”
Brief Summary-
🗣️"Jackie is a novel, a work of fiction inspired by the life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis"
You follow Jackie as she tells her story about her dreams and aspirations. You get an understanding of how she felt when she met JFK. You get lost in her world of dating John to marriage, and motherhood and becoming the First Lady. And the life she made for herself after the tragic event of 11/22/63.
”You were not my kind of adventure. Too American. Too good-looking. Too boy. Too much about politics and new money. Your life, I told myself, was not the life I was looking for.”
My Thoughts-
I loved this book so much. I immediately pre-ordered the physical book after finishing.🥹💖 This was so beautifully written. So intimate. This read like a personal diary of Jackie and I was absolutely immersed in her story. I highlighted so many quotes/moments. The author did mention in the beginning of the book that some quotes are from Jackie that can found in public records. The way the author painted Jackie was absolutely incredible. Such was such an elegant and strong lady. I fell in love with her all over again.
I loved reading about Jackie and who she was as a person before she was know as JFK wife. Like most people I didn’t know what her dreams and aspiration were. It was lovely read. Even durning her time with JFK you can tell she tried so hard to keep her separate identity; I think durning that time it was hard to do so.
As this is a historical fiction I loved reading about the problems that JKF was dealing with in his time before and durning his presidency. Definitely an added flare to this book that kept the pace going. The booked touched on some details with MLK and Rosa Parks. I was excited when Frank Sinatra was mentioned. It’s wild to think all those incredible people were around during the same time period.
The book did touch on JFK affairs with multiple women including Marilyn Monroe. It really showed you an added layer of Jackie’s personality and why she was the way she was. But at the end of it all you can see was how in love she was with JFK.
After the tragic death of JFK the mood of the booked changed and I was sobbing. But to see Jackie overcome that tragedy and make a life for herself was beautiful to read.
“The world is alive to me because of you.”
Overall-
This was a fantastic read. I felt all the emotions while reading this one. I really encourage all my friends that enjoy historical fiction to give this one a try. Even if historical fiction is not your thing the writing and storytelling was impeccable and I think most people would still enjoy this read.
This was my first book by the author and I’m excited to check out her other work as well.
“Thirty years this month. You come near me, as you do, every November. A momentary shudder and I feel you like a shadow cross my hands. Sometimes it strikes me that I have become an entirely different woman from the woman that you knew”
Playlist-
🎶I’ve Got The World On A String- Frank Sinatra
🎶Say A Little Prayer For You- Aretha Franklin
🎶You Can’t Hurry Love- The Supremes
🎶They Can’t Take That Away - Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong
🎶Then He Kissed Me- The Crystals
🎶Can’t Help Falling In Love- Elvis Presley
🎶When You’re Smiling- Frank Sinatra
🎶I’ll Be Seeing You- Billie Holiday
🎶At Last- Etta James
🎶Beyond The Sea- Bobby Darin
🎶Baby Love- The Supremes
🎶 Suspicious Mind- Elvis Presley
🎶Ain’t That A Kick In The Head- Dean Martin
🎶Days Of Wine & Roses- Frank Sinatra
🎶I’d Rather Go Blind- Etta James
🎶Sitting On the Dock Of The Bay- Otis Redding
🎶All I Could Do Was Cry- Etta James
🎶Honey- Dean Martin
🎶 Unforgettable- Nat King Cole
✨ Thanks to NetGalley, Dawn Tripp, and Random House Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ✨
June 14, 2024
5 "ferociously romantic, unabashedly idealistic, poignantly interior" stars !!!
Warm thanx to the author, Netgalley and Random House for an e-copy. This will be released June 2024. I am providing an honest review.
Warning folks: I am going to fuckin' gush !
I started this on a beach in Belize hoping for an entertaining soapy chick lit biography to pass the time away.
What I got instead....
-a deeply felt and ferociously romantic love story of American royalty
- a moving portrayal of American politics and life through the eyes of New England upper crust
- a speculative yet plausible psychological portrayal of Jackie with nuance, compassion and moment by moment shift of emotional and intellectual growth..... we are not only told a story of recent times but inhabit the mind, heart and soul of a woman of myth
Beautifully and evocatively written.... struck me both in the heart and the gut.....
This is THE book for the summer of 2024 ! Amazing Ms. Tripp just amazing !
Warm thanx to the author, Netgalley and Random House for an e-copy. This will be released June 2024. I am providing an honest review.
Warning folks: I am going to fuckin' gush !
I started this on a beach in Belize hoping for an entertaining soapy chick lit biography to pass the time away.
What I got instead....
-a deeply felt and ferociously romantic love story of American royalty
- a moving portrayal of American politics and life through the eyes of New England upper crust
- a speculative yet plausible psychological portrayal of Jackie with nuance, compassion and moment by moment shift of emotional and intellectual growth..... we are not only told a story of recent times but inhabit the mind, heart and soul of a woman of myth
Beautifully and evocatively written.... struck me both in the heart and the gut.....
This is THE book for the summer of 2024 ! Amazing Ms. Tripp just amazing !
February 22, 2024
The reason we read historical fiction is because sometimes the facts just aren’t enough. A brilliant, beautiful book like Dawn Tripp’s, Jackie, touches the soul in ways conventional biographies can’t. I devoured this novel, and felt the power of history and a remarkable woman.
June 18, 2024
Available now
This is a wonderful historical fiction novel about Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. I was always intrigued by her life. In reading this book I learned a lot about her life that I didn’t know. Of course I remember the tragic events of the assassination of JFK. I was only 13 and vividly remember I was glued to the TV watching the coverage. I couldn’t believe that someone shot the president of the United States.
This is a beautifully written story, how Jackie met and fell in love with JFK. Her life with him her inner thoughts as her marriage was tested. What she felt as her husband was shot. Could she have done something different that would’ve saved his life.
She was a loving mother, and tried to protect her children at all costs. She was a lover of books. She endured many tragedies and challenges in her lifetime.
I loved how this book was written in Jackie’s voice. You could feel her emotions of what she was what she was going through. It was like a memoir.
This was a very well researched book with many poetic quotes throughout. It is a captivating story.
Thank you from Random House for providing this advanced readers copy through NetGalley.
This is a wonderful historical fiction novel about Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. I was always intrigued by her life. In reading this book I learned a lot about her life that I didn’t know. Of course I remember the tragic events of the assassination of JFK. I was only 13 and vividly remember I was glued to the TV watching the coverage. I couldn’t believe that someone shot the president of the United States.
This is a beautifully written story, how Jackie met and fell in love with JFK. Her life with him her inner thoughts as her marriage was tested. What she felt as her husband was shot. Could she have done something different that would’ve saved his life.
She was a loving mother, and tried to protect her children at all costs. She was a lover of books. She endured many tragedies and challenges in her lifetime.
I loved how this book was written in Jackie’s voice. You could feel her emotions of what she was what she was going through. It was like a memoir.
This was a very well researched book with many poetic quotes throughout. It is a captivating story.
Thank you from Random House for providing this advanced readers copy through NetGalley.
Want to read
March 9, 2024After reading Meagan's review, I rushed over to NG with crossed fingers and toes to get approved for this ARC! I GOT IT❣️
I'm crying already 🤧
I'm crying already 🤧
May 23, 2024
This is an historical fiction offering of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, with Jackie narrating her story. At just shy of 500 pages, it was quite a long road walking in Jackie's shoes. I've read at least one other quality historical fiction novel about Jackie, but felt like I learned a good deal from this one. I think the author delivered an authentic portrait of Jackie based on all her research. The Jackie I came to know from reading this book was slight in physical stature, but grounded by a steely inner strength. Like many of us, she treasured books. She truly loved her husband Jack, but was well aware of his extra-marital affairs, and drew a red line in the ground that the most important thing was that her children were protected from that potential scandal. She was extremely intelligent, well-read, had good instincts, and Jack consulted with her on many things.
The most riveting parts (like one would expect) were involving the assassination of her husband, John F. Kennedy, as she sat beside him in the open topped limousine, described in minute detail. The book begins with that experience- an obvious device to draw the reader in- then backtracks to the 50s right before she met Jack Kennedy. We're taken through her marriage to JFK, living in the White House, the assassination and funeral, second marriage to Aristotle Onassis, and her pleasant life living in New York City working as a book editor prior to her death from cancer.
One of the tropes I found tiring to read were the italicized passages of poetic meanderings about certain topics involving nature or other heartfelt observations. Jackie was a lover of poetry, so I can understand its inclusion, even though I didn't particularly enjoy it. It was one of those books that were lengthy and felt like it, but still worthwhile and enjoyable. I feel as though I would like to pick up and read some other books that I've owned for some time about Jackie Kennedy Onassis- so that's a sure sign that this book inspired my further interest in the subject.
Thank you to the publisher Random House who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
The most riveting parts (like one would expect) were involving the assassination of her husband, John F. Kennedy, as she sat beside him in the open topped limousine, described in minute detail. The book begins with that experience- an obvious device to draw the reader in- then backtracks to the 50s right before she met Jack Kennedy. We're taken through her marriage to JFK, living in the White House, the assassination and funeral, second marriage to Aristotle Onassis, and her pleasant life living in New York City working as a book editor prior to her death from cancer.
One of the tropes I found tiring to read were the italicized passages of poetic meanderings about certain topics involving nature or other heartfelt observations. Jackie was a lover of poetry, so I can understand its inclusion, even though I didn't particularly enjoy it. It was one of those books that were lengthy and felt like it, but still worthwhile and enjoyable. I feel as though I would like to pick up and read some other books that I've owned for some time about Jackie Kennedy Onassis- so that's a sure sign that this book inspired my further interest in the subject.
Thank you to the publisher Random House who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
May 5, 2024
I remember hearing the classroom phone ring. I remember the look on my teacher’s face, and her trying to compose herself enough to tell us that school was being let out for the day, our parents would be picking us up, as she shared the news as tears streamed down her face. I remember sitting in our kitchen soon after, my mother looking out the window at all the younger children playing outside who had no concept of what had just happened, and how it would come to affect, and change our country. I remember the newsreels showing Jackie reaching over Jack, and the horror of it all felt almost endless, the despair for those who had love, or at least respect for him, and for her loss.
The magic of that time, of Camelot, of the Kennedy family, may have faded somewhat over time, but there are stories to be told, as well. Dawn Tripp has written a beautiful and heartfelt story of the Kennedy family and that time. This story shares the beginning, the middle and the end of their stories, but this is essentially the story of life in the years that followed the death of JFK.
Dawn Tripp’s story shares how Jackie managed to navigate her marriage with Jack, his flirtations and infidelities, how he saw her, how she saw herself, as well as how the country saw her, and their marriage. As outgoing and friendly as Jack was, and as revered, or hated, Jackie wasn’t as interested in fame.
And then, Jackie’s life changed with his death, and Bobby was almost constantly by her side, helping her navigate Jack’s death, trying to imagine a life without Jack in the future, and what that future would look like.
Later on, as Onassis entered her life, her life changed once more. Their relationship begins well, but begins to unravel over time. Following his death, she enters another change, a career as a book editor in New York City. Following her career as a book editor, she leaves New York City and spends the remaining years of her life in New England, surrounded by friends and family.
Beautifully written, this is a story of American politics, fame, the good and bad that accompany fame, a love story of the men she loved & who often betrayed that love.
Pub Date: Jun 18 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Random House
March 8, 2024
Wonderfully evocative and beautifully written!
There has always been a mystique about John and Jackie Kennedy and that led me to read quite a bit about JFK’s life, his family and his presidency. But in what I read, Jackie was not the focus and so I did not know a lot about her. So when I learned that there was a historical fiction novel about her, I knew that it was one I wanted to read. A perfect blend of a genre I enjoy and a personality I wanted to learn more about.
There is a great line in the book that says «When they tell the story of a woman…they tell the story of what happened to her, and in the world’s eyes, usually what happens to a woman is men. » JFK is of course a big part of this novel, but the story is about Jackie, told from her own perspective (as imagined by the author but based on meticulous research), about her life as it unfolded, her marriage to JFK, events that she lived through and how she recreated her life after her husband’s death. We see the 1960s unfold through her eyes, including the civil rights movement, desegregation efforts, the Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK’s dream to send a man to the moon, and, of course, his assassination. We also see her navigate her path forward as a famous widow with two young children, her every move heavily scrutinized by the world.
The author’s effective use of the first person point of view makes this read feel like a memoir and allows the reader to become immersed in Jackie’s world. There are some chapters from Jack’s perspective which I found effective as they served to juxtapose his and Jackie’s reactions to the same events/circumstances.
In addition to being evocative of time and place, the story is beautifully written and it was a pleasure to read. I found this to be a fascinating look at the enigmatic, strong woman that Jackie was in her many roles as wife, mother, First Lady, widow and woman. Wonderfully done - I highly recommend it to lovers of historical fiction.
A huge thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this early review copy.
·
There has always been a mystique about John and Jackie Kennedy and that led me to read quite a bit about JFK’s life, his family and his presidency. But in what I read, Jackie was not the focus and so I did not know a lot about her. So when I learned that there was a historical fiction novel about her, I knew that it was one I wanted to read. A perfect blend of a genre I enjoy and a personality I wanted to learn more about.
There is a great line in the book that says «When they tell the story of a woman…they tell the story of what happened to her, and in the world’s eyes, usually what happens to a woman is men. » JFK is of course a big part of this novel, but the story is about Jackie, told from her own perspective (as imagined by the author but based on meticulous research), about her life as it unfolded, her marriage to JFK, events that she lived through and how she recreated her life after her husband’s death. We see the 1960s unfold through her eyes, including the civil rights movement, desegregation efforts, the Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK’s dream to send a man to the moon, and, of course, his assassination. We also see her navigate her path forward as a famous widow with two young children, her every move heavily scrutinized by the world.
The author’s effective use of the first person point of view makes this read feel like a memoir and allows the reader to become immersed in Jackie’s world. There are some chapters from Jack’s perspective which I found effective as they served to juxtapose his and Jackie’s reactions to the same events/circumstances.
In addition to being evocative of time and place, the story is beautifully written and it was a pleasure to read. I found this to be a fascinating look at the enigmatic, strong woman that Jackie was in her many roles as wife, mother, First Lady, widow and woman. Wonderfully done - I highly recommend it to lovers of historical fiction.
A huge thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this early review copy.
·
June 27, 2024
This book is incredible. Ever since I studied the assassination of JFK in year 10 history I have been fascinated by the Kennedy family. I love reading and watching anything about them, always a chance to learn something that I didn’t know. While this book is fiction, it is very well researched and I feel very close to the truth.
How could you not be intrigued by Jackie Kennedy. There was something so special about that woman, her style, her grace, her love of books and history. She was beautiful and loved her husband unconditionally. She was strong at a time when women were meant to just be a mother and wife. I loved that about her.
Now Jack Kennedy was not a saint, we all know that. But again, there is something that draws you into him. People loved him, women in particular. As a president he made mistakes, he wanted to great things when his life was cut short.
I cried so much reading the chapters leading into and after the assassination. It was heartbreaking. It is hard to put it into words. That family went through so much trauma and loss, with Bobby not so long afterwards.
All I can say is read this book. It didn’t feel like nearly 500 pages, in fact, I did not want it to end. The sign a of great book.
Thank you so much to Hachette Australia for feeling my Kennedy obsession. Published on June 27th.
How could you not be intrigued by Jackie Kennedy. There was something so special about that woman, her style, her grace, her love of books and history. She was beautiful and loved her husband unconditionally. She was strong at a time when women were meant to just be a mother and wife. I loved that about her.
Now Jack Kennedy was not a saint, we all know that. But again, there is something that draws you into him. People loved him, women in particular. As a president he made mistakes, he wanted to great things when his life was cut short.
I cried so much reading the chapters leading into and after the assassination. It was heartbreaking. It is hard to put it into words. That family went through so much trauma and loss, with Bobby not so long afterwards.
All I can say is read this book. It didn’t feel like nearly 500 pages, in fact, I did not want it to end. The sign a of great book.
Thank you so much to Hachette Australia for feeling my Kennedy obsession. Published on June 27th.
January 9, 2024
I've read many books about Jackie, but Dawn Tripp's histfic novel about her has become my favorite. We get to see facets of Jackie's life not revealed before in quite this way, with some of Jack's views on the same happenings. Just like that amazing cover shot, this story offers a unique look at the once most famous woman in the world. Highly, highly recommended!
January 4, 2024
JACKIE was an illuminating reading experience for me. It totally shattered my existing impressions of Jackie Kennedy and left me contemplating her challenges, but also those of any woman or man who feels trapped by family expectations. . . Or, social conventions. . . Or financial constraints. . . Or, anything at all.
I started the book with an impression I gained of Jackie and her sister from a recent biography . It was not positive. And then this beautifully written, sensitive appraisal of Jackie opened my mind to the possibility that she was perhaps the Jackie of the harsh biography AND Dawn Tripp’s intelligent, introspective, and very conflicted woman.
The writing in this novel is luminous, and painterly or poetic. Its beauty was transferred to the subject for me and gave me a new appreciation of this woman I thought I knew. . .
I started the book with an impression I gained of Jackie and her sister from a recent biography . It was not positive. And then this beautifully written, sensitive appraisal of Jackie opened my mind to the possibility that she was perhaps the Jackie of the harsh biography AND Dawn Tripp’s intelligent, introspective, and very conflicted woman.
The writing in this novel is luminous, and painterly or poetic. Its beauty was transferred to the subject for me and gave me a new appreciation of this woman I thought I knew. . .
June 30, 2024
With a stack of unread books on my night table, I had to ask myself: why would I read yet another book about Jackie Kennedy? Hasn’t her life been picked over enough?
But still, the book – arriving at my door unsolicited – kept drawing me in. I read the first few pages and couldn’t stop after that. It appears that the answer to my questions was two-fold.
First, I felt an unbearable sadness at this time – months before an unthinkable election when the death knell may strike on democracy – to remember a time when America truly was filled with promise: a young war-hero president, his dazzling young wife, a White House filled with culture and beauty, a space-age program that made Americans believe we could conquer the stars themselves, and a time when we could focus on the wonders of science and not its terrors.
Secondly and most important, was Jackie. It’s important to realize that Dawn Tripp wrote a work of fiction based heavily on the voluminous research she did – a true blend of facts and imagination. She reimagines Jackie’s voice, her thoughts, her conversation. In her author’s note, she writes this: “I believe that fiction, when it hews to the historical record, can access a different kind of truth, an experiential truth that allows us to enter the emotional heart of a story.”
Despite all the attention on her, Jackie was an inscrutable person. I wonder how she could have remained in love with a serial adulterer who was so much like her own father (and here I may have answered my own question). Or her father-in-law (I wish the author had gone deeper into this despicable man). I wonder what she really thought about the Warren Commission, which almost definitely got it all wrong, or the gnome Onassis (the author presents insight), or her own premature death (again, some insights). Were Jack and Jackie a true love affair or a fairy tale? The book is centered mainly on their marriage, and the supposition is that they love each other and need each other in their own unique way.
If you’re seeking a strictly historical book about Jackie, you won’t get it here, although you’ll most certainly learn some new facts about this quixotic woman. If you want the best of both worlds – fiction merged with a big dollop of history—you will. The book is well-written, lyrical in places.
I thank Random House for including me in an advance mailing for this book. Since it was unsolicited, I was certainly under no obligation to read or review, but I’m very glad I did and my opinions are all my own. I rate this book a 4.5 and am rounding up.
But still, the book – arriving at my door unsolicited – kept drawing me in. I read the first few pages and couldn’t stop after that. It appears that the answer to my questions was two-fold.
First, I felt an unbearable sadness at this time – months before an unthinkable election when the death knell may strike on democracy – to remember a time when America truly was filled with promise: a young war-hero president, his dazzling young wife, a White House filled with culture and beauty, a space-age program that made Americans believe we could conquer the stars themselves, and a time when we could focus on the wonders of science and not its terrors.
Secondly and most important, was Jackie. It’s important to realize that Dawn Tripp wrote a work of fiction based heavily on the voluminous research she did – a true blend of facts and imagination. She reimagines Jackie’s voice, her thoughts, her conversation. In her author’s note, she writes this: “I believe that fiction, when it hews to the historical record, can access a different kind of truth, an experiential truth that allows us to enter the emotional heart of a story.”
Despite all the attention on her, Jackie was an inscrutable person. I wonder how she could have remained in love with a serial adulterer who was so much like her own father (and here I may have answered my own question). Or her father-in-law (I wish the author had gone deeper into this despicable man). I wonder what she really thought about the Warren Commission, which almost definitely got it all wrong, or the gnome Onassis (the author presents insight), or her own premature death (again, some insights). Were Jack and Jackie a true love affair or a fairy tale? The book is centered mainly on their marriage, and the supposition is that they love each other and need each other in their own unique way.
If you’re seeking a strictly historical book about Jackie, you won’t get it here, although you’ll most certainly learn some new facts about this quixotic woman. If you want the best of both worlds – fiction merged with a big dollop of history—you will. The book is well-written, lyrical in places.
I thank Random House for including me in an advance mailing for this book. Since it was unsolicited, I was certainly under no obligation to read or review, but I’m very glad I did and my opinions are all my own. I rate this book a 4.5 and am rounding up.
July 14, 2024
Unputdownable!
I was totally captivated by this novel based on the life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
This richly detailed novel is well-researched and beautifully written.
Jackie is the story of a woman, deeply private, who led many lives filled with love and power, family and tragedy, loss and reinvention.
Historical fiction at it's best!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Random House for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
I was totally captivated by this novel based on the life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
This richly detailed novel is well-researched and beautifully written.
Jackie is the story of a woman, deeply private, who led many lives filled with love and power, family and tragedy, loss and reinvention.
Historical fiction at it's best!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Random House for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
June 23, 2024
This book filled my Jackie tank full (maybe for good or for at least a long while).
Trepidatious is how I felt starting out. I always hesitate to read historical fiction of a strong, outspoken woman. It seems to me that lady has said for herself all that needs to be said. I had bad experiences with one about Eleanor Roosevelt and another about Edith Wharton.
I am happy to report this author wisely set out her research and thorough work and methods for writing this in the Author’s Note at the beginning and put my little fearful heart right to rest.
The only thing about this book that did not sit right with me are the interspersed parts from JFK’s perspective. They seemed angry and interrupted my time with Jackie. Those parts were exactly why I hesitate on historical fiction about the people in history that I love. They also caused an imbalance in the book because, duh, JFK dies about midway through and then the book becomes all Jackie. I am symmetrical in most things and this asymmetrical style threw me off.
Overall, this was a great story and I’m glad I took the chance.
Trepidatious is how I felt starting out. I always hesitate to read historical fiction of a strong, outspoken woman. It seems to me that lady has said for herself all that needs to be said. I had bad experiences with one about Eleanor Roosevelt and another about Edith Wharton.
I am happy to report this author wisely set out her research and thorough work and methods for writing this in the Author’s Note at the beginning and put my little fearful heart right to rest.
The only thing about this book that did not sit right with me are the interspersed parts from JFK’s perspective. They seemed angry and interrupted my time with Jackie. Those parts were exactly why I hesitate on historical fiction about the people in history that I love. They also caused an imbalance in the book because, duh, JFK dies about midway through and then the book becomes all Jackie. I am symmetrical in most things and this asymmetrical style threw me off.
Overall, this was a great story and I’m glad I took the chance.
June 9, 2024
Good historical fiction about the life of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. In this novel, the reader is allowed into Jackie’s head to get her unique perspective about her life, told in her voice. Her experiences were sometimes very humorous, and others unspeakably tragic. Everything that occurred molded her into a strong, resilient woman, still admired by many people today, years after her passing.
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
February 14, 2024
4.5
Thank you for the advanced readers' copy, goodreads.
This historic fiction was more than I thought it would be.
I was so incredibly excited that I got chosen to read this fantastic story by the author.. This insiders view was absolutely wonderful.
Nice short chapters, and it doesn't get boring in any sense.
The only issue I did have is that it is well known. JFK took drugs so he could walk with barely any pain, and Jackie received the same shots as JFK.
If that would have been added, then this book would be absolutely on point.
Thank you for the advanced readers' copy, goodreads.
This historic fiction was more than I thought it would be.
I was so incredibly excited that I got chosen to read this fantastic story by the author.. This insiders view was absolutely wonderful.
Nice short chapters, and it doesn't get boring in any sense.
The only issue I did have is that it is well known. JFK took drugs so he could walk with barely any pain, and Jackie received the same shots as JFK.
If that would have been added, then this book would be absolutely on point.
February 12, 2024
I devoured this work of fiction about Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and was impressed with the research behind author Dawn Tripp’s book. The story takes the form of a memoir and brought me to tears as the tragedy unfolded in Dallas. I was reminded of the news stories and mood of the country during this time, and remembered the fascination the entire country had with all the Kennedys. Excellent!
July 17, 2024
‘When they tell the story of a woman, they never get right up against what she might have felt and thought and seen and feared and wondered.’
Jackie by Dawn Tripp is a powerful book - to have boldly taken something that so many are so familiar with and present it in a new and highly engaging way is quite a feat. I think the above quote sums up beautifully what Dawn has tried to do here with the story of one of the most famous females of the twentieth century - what did Jackie feel? Think? See? Fear? Wonder? Through reading this book I now appreciate how Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis projected a myriad of selves to the world but was seemingly a very private person who saw, felt, feared and wondered about a great many things.
‘… the deeper sacrifice, I’ve come to realize, is about power and the accommodations a woman is called on to make. To shrink enough, to be small enough, to fit into the corners of a man’s world, to file down her own edges to be the kind of wife he’ll need, that he and others expect her to be.’
This book takes a look at the courtship, romance and marriage of Jackie to JFK (some time is dedicated to Onassis but only to highlight the impact of that relationship in adding to the incredible life and experiences she witnessed). Dawn Tripp takes everything you think you know about - not only Jackie and Jack, not only American politics of the day and not only that fateful day in Dallas - and reconstructs events in a way that dives deep and, for me, has certainly reshaped my own thoughts and understanding of how things seemingly played out.
‘Why marvel if a woman at a certain point tears off the veils that cover her like a monument - a thirty-nine-year-old monument, still beautiful, extremely alive, obligated to a role that does not belong to her?’
So well researched, this book reads more like a memoir as it takes you through the life that was Jackie. Written in her voice proved a most powerful tool in placing readers front and centre with all the feels of what Jackie experienced. I believe not only will the stunning sepia cover draw you in but the little snippets of Jack’s opinion on a few rare chapters and the overall incredible piece of history will deeply immerse you and make you a part of one woman’s extraordinary life.
‘We imagine time will clarify our intention. Who we were, how we lived, what we achieved. We want to believe we will be treated with integrity, with fairness and compassion. But history is not so forgiving, is it?’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
Jackie by Dawn Tripp is a powerful book - to have boldly taken something that so many are so familiar with and present it in a new and highly engaging way is quite a feat. I think the above quote sums up beautifully what Dawn has tried to do here with the story of one of the most famous females of the twentieth century - what did Jackie feel? Think? See? Fear? Wonder? Through reading this book I now appreciate how Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis projected a myriad of selves to the world but was seemingly a very private person who saw, felt, feared and wondered about a great many things.
‘… the deeper sacrifice, I’ve come to realize, is about power and the accommodations a woman is called on to make. To shrink enough, to be small enough, to fit into the corners of a man’s world, to file down her own edges to be the kind of wife he’ll need, that he and others expect her to be.’
This book takes a look at the courtship, romance and marriage of Jackie to JFK (some time is dedicated to Onassis but only to highlight the impact of that relationship in adding to the incredible life and experiences she witnessed). Dawn Tripp takes everything you think you know about - not only Jackie and Jack, not only American politics of the day and not only that fateful day in Dallas - and reconstructs events in a way that dives deep and, for me, has certainly reshaped my own thoughts and understanding of how things seemingly played out.
‘Why marvel if a woman at a certain point tears off the veils that cover her like a monument - a thirty-nine-year-old monument, still beautiful, extremely alive, obligated to a role that does not belong to her?’
So well researched, this book reads more like a memoir as it takes you through the life that was Jackie. Written in her voice proved a most powerful tool in placing readers front and centre with all the feels of what Jackie experienced. I believe not only will the stunning sepia cover draw you in but the little snippets of Jack’s opinion on a few rare chapters and the overall incredible piece of history will deeply immerse you and make you a part of one woman’s extraordinary life.
‘We imagine time will clarify our intention. Who we were, how we lived, what we achieved. We want to believe we will be treated with integrity, with fairness and compassion. But history is not so forgiving, is it?’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
June 18, 2024
I’ve always been fascinated by the stories of the Kennedy family so I thought a historical fiction novel about Jackie would be entertaining. That word does not even begin to describe the way I feel about this book now that I’m done! I know some liberties have been taken to give the story continuity and have it seem to be from her point of view, but oh my - the life she led. The people she met and considered friends, her life was not dull. A lot of her story was new to me and it definitely reads like a novel! Although it seems like she may have been a prop for the Kennedy family, to get Jack elected to president, she knew what she was doing and was usually in control of her own life. An amazing story.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House publishing for the digital ARC!
Thank you Netgalley and Random House publishing for the digital ARC!
June 19, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ really really interesting read if you want to know more about jackie kennedy. i learned a lot! so many sad parts though. the book was a bit too long in my opinion, especially for me not being crazy into jackie and all of the history stuff. regardless of that, it’s well written and i like the style of the book. people will really like this if they want to learn more this particular person/topic
December 26, 2023
An interesting book, written almost like a personal journal, of her life. Mixed throughout are a few small chapters from Jack's pov which attempts to give insight on how they viewed the same situations. Personally I felt the author gave a credible voice to them both and made a for a very enjoyable read. Put this one on your list. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 21, 2024
This historical novel is written mostly from the perspective of the only Jackie so famous you can refer to her by just one name - Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. (There are also some interstitial chapters from John F Kennedy’s perspective.) After a prologue immediately after JFK’s assassination, the book rewinds to a young Jackie, her meeting JFK, their marriage, her time as First Lady, the assassination, her mourning, her second marriage to Aristotle Onassis, and her later life working in publishing right up to the end of her life.
It might seem audacious to write in the first person as such a famous woman, but I thought this book did it really well. Although I was not familiar with all the details of Jackie’s life, it felt impeccably researched and really made me feel like I was in Jackie’s head. Super interesting, very well written, and emotional as well. I really enjoyed reading this and am looking forward to discussing with my book club, and will definitely go back and read Dawn Tripp’s novel about Georgia O’Keefe as well.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC (out 6/18/24); all opinions are my own.
It might seem audacious to write in the first person as such a famous woman, but I thought this book did it really well. Although I was not familiar with all the details of Jackie’s life, it felt impeccably researched and really made me feel like I was in Jackie’s head. Super interesting, very well written, and emotional as well. I really enjoyed reading this and am looking forward to discussing with my book club, and will definitely go back and read Dawn Tripp’s novel about Georgia O’Keefe as well.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC (out 6/18/24); all opinions are my own.
January 21, 2024
"Jackie" is an elegant and most beautiful book, written as if it was told by Jackie Kennedy Onassis and John F. Kennedy (Jack), from the time they met until JFK's untimely death, and then by Jackie as she went on with her life, raising her children, meeting and marrying Aristotle Onassis, and then to her cancer diagnosis.
Although this was a historical fiction title, as I read the story I felt as if I was inside Jackie's mind and observing her life as it unfolded.
Dawn Tripp's beautiful prose left me speechless in many spots throughout the book, almost as if it was infused with poetry, and was very thought-provoking and inspiring.
I do hope that she will write many more books in this style. There are so many other influential people whose lives would be so interesting to learn about in this fashion.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Although this was a historical fiction title, as I read the story I felt as if I was inside Jackie's mind and observing her life as it unfolded.
Dawn Tripp's beautiful prose left me speechless in many spots throughout the book, almost as if it was infused with poetry, and was very thought-provoking and inspiring.
I do hope that she will write many more books in this style. There are so many other influential people whose lives would be so interesting to learn about in this fashion.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2024
A magnificent interpretation of the inner musings of a most iconic American woman...as someone who is familiar with the intricate details of Jackie's life, I was blown away by the way the author wove such breathtaking inner soliloquies (both hers and JFK's) into the fabric of her story. I read this novel over to cover while traveling through the south of France, a place that was near and dear to Jackie's heart. It was the perfect summer companion as we traveled the countryside. Highly recommend!
July 6, 2024
So good. Book of the year so far for me
July 22, 2024
“No one wants to know the real story - the private story - the evolution of a woman’s interior life. They want events on a linear string. Some twists and turns, a little joy, a little danger, tragedy, of course, and, if there’s some transgression, comeuppance. When they tell the story of a woman, they never get right up against what she might have felt and thought and seen and feared and wondered. Rather, they tell the story of what happened to her, and in the worlds eyes, usually what happens to a woman is men. Until at a certain point, perhaps, she decides that’s not what the story will be.”
“There’s nothing duller, Jackie, than a smooth, perfect-skinned woman. A woman is beautiful by her scars.”
“It is really only this:
The world is alive to me because of you”
“When I feel you close to me - your presence and the loss - I just wish I’d given more, said and trusted more. It’s like breathing in lightning, the want and the regret”
“There’s nothing more important than books…when people are reading, they’re thinking. That’s how change takes place”
“We are made of stars, and I loved you from the first moment I saw you”
And that’s just to start. Honestly, there’s probably a quote worth writing here on nearly every page. This was quite possibly some of the most beautiful writing I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
Captivating is the most perfect description. Ethereal even. This one was on the longer side, but I never wanted it to end.
Melodic. Graceful. Poetic. Striking. Lyrical. Poignant. Mesmerizing. Haunting.
This was such a perfect blend of fact and fiction woven together seamlessly. The chapters about the assassination absolutely wrecked me. Heartbreaking. Devastating.
Here’s the thing. I found this one on the New Fiction shelf at my local library and couldn’t turn away from that striking cover. ( Now I need my own copy to highlight, take notes in and read again! ) I’ve never been super crazy about Jackie O, and never really understood the hype. Not sure if I’m too young, or what. I recognized that she was iconic to many but was just kind of meh 🤷🏻♀️ about all of it. And the Kennedys? Camelot my behind. 🙄 they’re the worst, I’ve never been a fan ( Ask Not. Here I come! Can’t wait to make it through my current TBR pile to get to you! ) but, despite all of that, I absolutely adored this story. I was constantly googling throughout to read more about all of the supporting cast, and I learned heaps.
This was so, so beautifully done, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Not just to lovers of history, historical fiction, or Jackie O, but to anyone that loves and appreciates beautiful writing. This one will stay with me for a long, long time.
“There’s nothing duller, Jackie, than a smooth, perfect-skinned woman. A woman is beautiful by her scars.”
“It is really only this:
The world is alive to me because of you”
“When I feel you close to me - your presence and the loss - I just wish I’d given more, said and trusted more. It’s like breathing in lightning, the want and the regret”
“There’s nothing more important than books…when people are reading, they’re thinking. That’s how change takes place”
“We are made of stars, and I loved you from the first moment I saw you”
And that’s just to start. Honestly, there’s probably a quote worth writing here on nearly every page. This was quite possibly some of the most beautiful writing I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
Captivating is the most perfect description. Ethereal even. This one was on the longer side, but I never wanted it to end.
Melodic. Graceful. Poetic. Striking. Lyrical. Poignant. Mesmerizing. Haunting.
This was such a perfect blend of fact and fiction woven together seamlessly. The chapters about the assassination absolutely wrecked me. Heartbreaking. Devastating.
Here’s the thing. I found this one on the New Fiction shelf at my local library and couldn’t turn away from that striking cover. ( Now I need my own copy to highlight, take notes in and read again! ) I’ve never been super crazy about Jackie O, and never really understood the hype. Not sure if I’m too young, or what. I recognized that she was iconic to many but was just kind of meh 🤷🏻♀️ about all of it. And the Kennedys? Camelot my behind. 🙄 they’re the worst, I’ve never been a fan ( Ask Not. Here I come! Can’t wait to make it through my current TBR pile to get to you! ) but, despite all of that, I absolutely adored this story. I was constantly googling throughout to read more about all of the supporting cast, and I learned heaps.
This was so, so beautifully done, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Not just to lovers of history, historical fiction, or Jackie O, but to anyone that loves and appreciates beautiful writing. This one will stay with me for a long, long time.
June 20, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review
This novel follows the fictionalized but historically influences life of the woman known as Jackie Kennedy Onassis.
This novel begins with a snapshot of the immediate aftermath of the assassination of JFK and what could be going through her mind in those moments. We jump right into the day Jackie met the man who was going to end up being her husband. We follow her journey from that day forward. Her work as a reporter, reluctantly dating Jack to quickly falling for him. Everything she gave up for his political career, motherhood, what it was like being the First Lady. The tremendous losses she experienced in life, her second marriage to a man who both helped her and hurt her. Her rise to adoration and the fall from grace. Her career in publishing, and her years living life on her own terms.
The days of Jackie O and JFK were way before my time, but their story and legacy shaped the way life is lived today. I have always been fascinated by the woman Jackie was, and this fictionalized exploration of her life really filled the gap in my knowledge. It made me think of her as a human being rather than the figurehead I saw her as. The author did such a good job of really making Jackie come to life on the page. It must have required hours upon hours of research to get the character and events right, and although we will never really truly know all the facets that comprised Jackie, I can definitely admire the work the author put in and her interpretation of perspective of Jackie.
This novel follows the fictionalized but historically influences life of the woman known as Jackie Kennedy Onassis.
This novel begins with a snapshot of the immediate aftermath of the assassination of JFK and what could be going through her mind in those moments. We jump right into the day Jackie met the man who was going to end up being her husband. We follow her journey from that day forward. Her work as a reporter, reluctantly dating Jack to quickly falling for him. Everything she gave up for his political career, motherhood, what it was like being the First Lady. The tremendous losses she experienced in life, her second marriage to a man who both helped her and hurt her. Her rise to adoration and the fall from grace. Her career in publishing, and her years living life on her own terms.
The days of Jackie O and JFK were way before my time, but their story and legacy shaped the way life is lived today. I have always been fascinated by the woman Jackie was, and this fictionalized exploration of her life really filled the gap in my knowledge. It made me think of her as a human being rather than the figurehead I saw her as. The author did such a good job of really making Jackie come to life on the page. It must have required hours upon hours of research to get the character and events right, and although we will never really truly know all the facets that comprised Jackie, I can definitely admire the work the author put in and her interpretation of perspective of Jackie.
June 27, 2024
Jackie by Dawn Tripp is a historical fiction novel based on the extraordinary life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. I like how the author described her vision for the book, “I wanted to explore the space between what took place and what might have”. Not surprisingly, I enjoyed reading about her early life and her complicated marriage to JFK best. It’s clear that she’s independent, smart, loves books, art and travel. “Once upon a time there was a boy who loved heroes and a girl who married him and found herself in a too small box of a housewife life.”
The aftermath of JFK’s assassination felt lengthy. She was widowed at just 34 years old. And then it’s followed by tragedy after tragedy that she and the Kennedy family endured. She seemed to marry the older, wealthy Aristotle Onassis (who dated her sister!) to escape the glare of celebrity and the constant reminder of JFK’s assassination. After he passes, Jackie transitions into an independent, middle aged New Yorker, who adores her children and work as a book editor.
The novel is clearly well researched. At 496 pages the reader is given a lot of detail about each character, an inside look at the rich and powerful Kennedys, incredible name dropping and some conspiracy theories. I’d recommend this to fans of the iconic Jackie O who prefer their historical fiction to be heavier with fiction. 4/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
The aftermath of JFK’s assassination felt lengthy. She was widowed at just 34 years old. And then it’s followed by tragedy after tragedy that she and the Kennedy family endured. She seemed to marry the older, wealthy Aristotle Onassis (who dated her sister!) to escape the glare of celebrity and the constant reminder of JFK’s assassination. After he passes, Jackie transitions into an independent, middle aged New Yorker, who adores her children and work as a book editor.
The novel is clearly well researched. At 496 pages the reader is given a lot of detail about each character, an inside look at the rich and powerful Kennedys, incredible name dropping and some conspiracy theories. I’d recommend this to fans of the iconic Jackie O who prefer their historical fiction to be heavier with fiction. 4/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
April 12, 2024
First thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publish for this advanced copy to read and review. I loved this book. I'm a big fan of historical fiction and this one sucked me right away. Who doesn't know details of the life and death of JFK and Jacki O? But what we don't always get insight into is their actual voices in adn thoughts. This book starts before Jackie and Jack have met and goes all of the way through to the last days of Jackie's life. I loved imagining the inside thoughts and movements of Jackie in their life before the presidency, during, and in the aftermath. It was heartbreaking moving through the assasination. The repetitive nature of telling the story of what happened again and again allowed me to feel like I was there, sad and broken with her. This book made me consider things I hadn't thought of before. Like their whole life was uprooted almost immediately after losing their central family member. Suddenly they had to evaluate what was important in their "home" and find a place to live. And then for the heartbreak to strike again with Bobby, almost felt too heavy. My only complaint I think would be that the end after Onassis felt rushed. I'm sure there were more details to Jackie's life after her husbands and love affairs. There is a little detail, but I could have used more. Even though I felt that segment lacked some details, I appreciated the speed that her life started to move as she aged. It feels so genuine. Like time skips around as we get older and our memories come at us in weird ways. Overall I highly recommend this book. I can't wait for this to be published and for the world to read it.
June 21, 2024
I’m sure we’ve all learned a lot about the Kennedy years. Even though this book is historical fiction, it’s the first time I’ve read from Jackie’s perspective. It was almost like reading her diary. Even though some conversations are made up, this book is so well researched and it is rooted in history and actual events. Written in first person, it reminded me of Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld.
I loved learning more about Jackie – as a mother, wife, sister, daughter-in-law, and especially as an advisor to JFK. While we know the impact that Jackie had on the world – for example through her fashion and updating of the White House – this book also shows her as an policy and communications asset to JFK’s presidency, both nationally and internationally. In this book, we see his presidency through her eyes.
As the timeline moved closer to November 1963, I could feel my anxiety and sadness rising as I read about JFK’s assassination from Jackie’s perspective. My kids are basically the same ages as Caroline and John were then, and my heart aches for what they went through at such a young age. I had similar feelings as the book entered 1968, knowing that Bobby Kennedy would suffer the same fate as his brother.
It takes a good writer to evoke those feelings while reading. It felt like I was truly reading how Jackie experienced these events.
I loved learning more about Jackie – as a mother, wife, sister, daughter-in-law, and especially as an advisor to JFK. While we know the impact that Jackie had on the world – for example through her fashion and updating of the White House – this book also shows her as an policy and communications asset to JFK’s presidency, both nationally and internationally. In this book, we see his presidency through her eyes.
As the timeline moved closer to November 1963, I could feel my anxiety and sadness rising as I read about JFK’s assassination from Jackie’s perspective. My kids are basically the same ages as Caroline and John were then, and my heart aches for what they went through at such a young age. I had similar feelings as the book entered 1968, knowing that Bobby Kennedy would suffer the same fate as his brother.
It takes a good writer to evoke those feelings while reading. It felt like I was truly reading how Jackie experienced these events.
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