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The Kennedy Girl

A Novel

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

"Espionage fans, Francophiles, and devotees of Netflix's Emily in Paris will enjoy this compelling expatriate story." — Booklist

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.

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    • Booklist

      October 1, 2024
      For her third historical fiction novel, Thomas selects 1960s Paris, a setting deeply entrenched in the Cold War. Mia is working in a New York City bakery when she is approached by a man who offers her an astonishing opportunity to model for a famous Parisian fashion house. Grieving for her father and without any other family, she embraces this chance to start anew. She doesn't realize, however, that the job comes with some perilous strings attached. What begins as a fairy tale evolves into a living nightmare when Mia is unwittingly conscripted to deliver messages for a secret organization. Her naivet�, work ethic, and low profile as a model make her an easy pawn and allow her to operate undetected. The plot repeatedly demonstrates how some women, particularly the beautiful and the elderly, are underestimated and mistakenly dismissed as irrelevant. Although Mia's speedy mastery of undercover skills borders on implausible, effective action scenes create sufficient dramatic urgency. Espionage fans, Francophiles, and devotees of Netflix's Emily in Paris will enjoy this compelling expatriate story.

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Library Journal

      December 20, 2024

      Thomas's (The Radcliffe Ladies' Reading Club) 1960s-set novel features 19-year-old Mia Walker, whose future is uncertain after the recent death of her father. She is working as a counter girl at a Brooklyn bakery when she is discovered by a stranger who recruits her for an exotic new modeling career. She is whisked to Paris and groomed to model at the prestigious House of Rousseau. Mia is soon nicknamed "the Kennedy Girl" due to her resemblance to President Kennedy's glamorous wife Jackie. Mia's modeling career escalates quickly amid coveted opportunities to hobnob with the rich and famous. But she soon realizes that modeling is not to be her only role at Rousseau; she has been selected to play a crucial part in Cold War espionage. This simple American girl must successfully navigate a dangerous web of secrets and deceit and figure out if she can trust anyone in her exciting new life. VERDICT A fast-paced foray into the exciting world of haute couture fashion and duplicitous Cold War espionage. Historical fiction fans will devour this tasty page-turner and hope for a sequel.--Mary Todd Chesnut

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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  • English

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