Synopsis (from Amazon): A captivating novel following the exploits of Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy, the forgotten and rebellious daughter of one of America's greatest political dynasties.
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 . . .
One (or more) Sentence Summary: I loved the Kennedy Debutante. It seems there is so much that is written about (and even learn about it in school) the Kennedy boys, but I hate to admit it, I never really thought about the Kennedy girls and don't believe I knew anything about Kick. I absolutely loved her spirit.
The book starts out with Kick being introduced to the London society, where her father is stationed as the US ambassador of UK. The book takes us through Kick falling in love, struggling with the religion differences between herself and her boyfriend, her career as a writer, the war, the lost of her older brother, the struggles with her sister Rose Mary, her strained relationship with her mother and much more.
I love the time period of the book. It reminds me of the Crown, which is a great show. I am so happy I learned about Kick. I think she was a lady before her time. She had so much spirit.
The book starts out with Kick being introduced to the London society, where her father is stationed as the US ambassador of UK. The book takes us through Kick falling in love, struggling with the religion differences between herself and her boyfriend, her career as a writer, the war, the lost of her older brother, the struggles with her sister Rose Mary, her strained relationship with her mother and much more.
I love the time period of the book. It reminds me of the Crown, which is a great show. I am so happy I learned about Kick. I think she was a lady before her time. She had so much spirit.
Would I Read Other Books by the Author: I would be interested in read Kerri's next book. I really liked her writing style and found The Kennedy Debutante to be very interesting.
Kerri Maher is also the author of This Is Not a Writing Manual: Notes for the Young Writer in the Real World under the name Kerri Majors. She holds an MFA from Columbia University and founded YARN, an award-winning literary journal of short-form YA writing. A writing professor for many years, she now writes full-time and lives with her daughter in Massachusetts, where apple picking and long walks in the woods are especially fine.
