What a great historical novel filled with little-known information about one of the most well-known presidential families in history. When I mention Kick Kennedy to readers they often are surprised as they knew nothing of her. Well-written and eye-opening. One not to miss.

There's plenty of of Kennedy stories out but this one is unique because it tells the story of Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy, second daughter of the family. I also really appreciated that Rosemary and Joe Sr's stories are told a bit as well. All 3 of the naught oft told siblings!

Kick is dedicated to her family but also fiery and determined to make her own way. This novel made her seem like a wonderful woman that I would love to meet. It's well written and engaging but it was missing the oomph that a book needs to make it amazing. Altogether though I would recommend!

I usually like historical fiction but this one was not a favorite of mine. It was slow to get into and I was disappointed how much of the book revolved around Kick finding a man. I guess it was a sign of the times.

The Kennedy Debutante was based on Kathleen "Kick" Kenndy, who was the sister of John F. Kennedy, and her rebellious life. Religion played a big part in how Kick carried herself and how she made her decisions to live her life. She was a strong, independent thinker in that time who made some tough, yet brave moves to reunite with her forbidden love. Kerri Maher artfully described the time period and the characters' feelings as they followed what they felt was right, even if it was difficult. Although I didn't know much about Kick or the Kennedy's time in London, I found it fascinating that there were issues with the Kennedy name during the war and about some of the less-known siblings.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All Opinions are my Own.

Review will be posted on 11/21/18

The Kennedy family lives in London now thanks to Joe Kennedy's job as ambassador. After being presented to the Queen, Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy is now in the same social circles as some of London's elite. That night she is celebrating her debut and she meets Billy Harrington, the future Duke of Devonshire. He is certainly smitten with her and as she starts to develop feelings for him, she realizes that things are more than a bit complicated. The Kennedys are very serious Catholics and his family is Protestant, not to mention they are also an aristocratic British family. How would this ever truly work? As time goes on and World War II breaks out, Billy joins the military and Kick heads back to the states. With oceans separating them along with their family's strict rules, do they really stand a chance? Kerri Maher's debut, The Kennedy Debutante, will excite fans of the Kennedys as well as fans of Downton Abbey and historical fiction.

I knew a bit about Kick through other novels I read about the Kennedys, but The Kennedy Debutante truly brought her to life. I always found her to be fascinating, especially since she rubbed elbows with the British aristocracy and took London by storm. It was like being in the world of Downton Abbey with its fancy dinners, grand estates, beautiful country homes, and of course the aristocracy, but it had that American Kennedy flair, too. Kick was the best of both worlds.

I have always found the Kennedys to be the most fascinating American family, so The Kennedy Debutante was right up my alley. I could tell that Maher researched Kick and her experiences in London very well and the other Kennedy family members felt very authentic. Kick's life story, along with the a lot of the Kennedys, is perfect for fiction, because their lives were, well, stranger than fiction and I mean this in the best way possible. They are a larger than life family and I think Maher captured this well.

I do wish Maher made me feel more of a connection to Kick. Oftentimes, I didn't feel a genuine connection, but once things started to progress with Billy a bit more, I did care more about her. I really wanted things to work out for them, but there were a ton of road blocks. One particular road block, being religion. It seems ridiculous as they are both Christians and their religions are so very similar, but I guess for the time period as well as for the Kennedy family that not being Catholic was a deal breaker. Then there was the war, which was the ultimate road block. I liked learning more about Billy's roll in the war as well as Kick and her plans for helping out. It was heartbreaking and romantic at the same time. I think the war truly put things in perspective for them. Kick didn't just stay in America where it was safe. Her story was equally fascinating.

The other events that happen to the Kennedys along the way are just as mind-blowing as the main conflicts in The Kennedy Debutante. I mean you can't make this stuff up. I won't give too much away if you aren't well-versed in the Kennedy family, but it was truly unbelievable. My heart goes out to Rose Kennedy, the matriarch, as she had many difficult challenges thrown in her path despite her cushy upbringing.

The Kennedy Debutante will definitely be a hit if you love the Kennedys and perhaps wanted to learn more about the charismatic Kick Kennedy. Be forewarned, that a Kennedy story never truly ends happily, so be ready for some major bumps in the road. This story will have you googling the real Kick Kennedy to just confirm various events in her life that will leave you with your mouth gaping and completely astonished.

I’ve always been fascinated wo the Kennedys. Whenever there is a book about the Kennedys, I have to read it. This novel sheds light on the much forgotten daughter, Kathleen. I knew that she had an ill-fated romance with an Englishman. However, this novel made her story come alive.
Kathleen Kennedy’s story is truly heart-breaking. I found her to be a strong character. She is a woman who is willing to fight for her own happiness. Therefore, she is very sympathetic and relatable character.
Overall, this book is about duty, love, and choices. The story is well-written with developed characters. The only thing I did not like about the novel was that the plot dragged a bit. Still, this book is perfect for any Kennedy fan. This novel is for fans of The Paris Wife, Z, and Carnegie’s Maid.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. It is about the 4th Kennedy, Kick, of whom you do not hear a whole lot about. Of course, she died in a plane crash when she was only 28. This novel begins 10 years earlier, when Kick (and Rosemary) were presented as debutantes in London when Joe Sr was ambassador to the UK before the outbreak of WWII. This novel covers a lot of topics really well. There is the politics of the time, especially the push to stay out of a war with Hitler. There is the religion question. The fight to save people from the Hitler regime. And also the day to day experience leading up to and during a world war. It was all very interesting. The author clearly did a lot of research.

Overall, this title missed the mark. It had the promise of an engaging Downton Abbey-esque story full of drama, insight, and a little bit of romance. As a work biographical historical fiction, there was not enough insight into the character, nor a persuasive and genuine voice.

This was a delightful book. I love reading historical fiction. It was nice to learn more about Kick and other members of the Kennedy family (and yes I was googling Kick afterwards to learn even more). The author researched Kick very well. The book did seem a bit repetitive but other than that a great read. Thank you for the ARC copy.

The Kennedy Debutante is, first and foremost, a love story. But it is a love story featuring a largely unknown member of the most famous family in America. It is a Capulet/Montegue love story with it's battle between the Irish-American Catholic Kennedys and the English Protestant Hartingtons. It's also a love story set during a time of world war. Most importantly, it's the story of a young girl coming of age and spreading her wings in extremely unusual conditions.

Fans of historical fiction are going to enjoy this book with its blend of American royalty and old school artistocracy. Those wanting to learn more about the Kennedy family will find plenty to learn here (Maher has hewed closely to the facts as they are known). Kick, as portrayed by Maher, is a young woman yearning to make her own way in life but one who is also deeply fond of her family and of her faith. Maher focuses on six years of Kick's life, from her debut in front of the Queen of England at age 18 until her return to England after the death of her husband when she was only 24 years old. My, but did she live a full life in those six years. In addition to making her mother happy with her "duties," Kick volunteered prior to the war and returned during the war to work with the Red Cross to provide comfort to soldiers. During her time in the U.S., she lived on her own and worked at a newspaper, rising to become a reporter.

While Maher does a good job of showing Kick's full life in this time period, her focus throughout is Kick's love of Billy Hartington. It was a complicated relationship, what with their different backgrounds, different religions, and his desire to serve his country. But I did feel that Maher could have made the love story a bit tighter. It sometimes felt, to me, like a lot of handwringing and unnecessary back and forth.

Still, Maher kept me entertained and made me want to learn more about Kick. If you look up Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy (and you know I did!), you will most often find her referred to as the "forgotten" Kennedy or the "rebellious" Kennedy. Maher wants readers to know and understand Kick, how love drove her to marry outside her faith (something that was unheard of in 1944), how constricted she felt playing the traditional socialite female roles. Considering the life she lead, it's hard to believe that Kick came to be forgotten. Until you remember her last name and the tragedy of her three older siblings (Joe Jr., Rosemary, and Jack) and her younger brother (Robert) and that she died when she was only 28 years old.

This biographical historical fiction novel, by debut author Kerri Maher, focuses on the life of Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, later known as Kathleen Cavendish, the Marchioness of Hartington. Before she became a Marchioness, Kick was the fourth child and second daughter, of Joseph and Rose Kennedy, who were also the parents to President John F. Kennedy, and his brother Robert F. Kennedy. While these two Kennedys later were in the spotlight across the world for their political activities (and subsequent assassinations), much less about Kick is remembered today. In this book, Maher works to correct this oversight, and remind us of what this woman could have been, had her life not been cut so short. (Thanks for the free book, @PRHGlobal / @prhinternational)

Being old enough to remember JFK’s assassination, the Kennedy family was a large part of my political upbringing. I remember that even after he was killed how people still discussed what might have been, had this Catholic continued to stay in office for what probably would have been two full terms. With this in mind, I very much appreciated the way Maher included Kick’s catholic upbringing and her devotion to her church, without ever making it sound preachy. Being catholic was simply part of who Kick was, nor more or less than anything physical or intellectual about her. The fact that it proved to be an obstacle to her being with the man she fell in love with, was more to her credit than her detriment. Furthermore, William “Billy” Cavendish’s being a Protestant was equally as important to him and his family, but that never diminished Kick in his eyes – or at least that’s how Maher portrayed him. If this had been a work of total fiction, you could say that it was the classic “boy meets girl” plot, but with a whole lot of the “boy loses girl” in it, despite the fact that Maher focused solidly on it being a “girl meets boy” story.

Maher also impressed me with the writing style here. While I found a level of stiffness to the style, this came across mostly when Maher was talking about Kick being catholic, and with her relationship with her mother. In contrast to that, when Maher wasn’t describing those parts of Kick’s live, the style felt much livelier and more emboldened, which matched Kick’s rebellious side of her personality. When things were going well for Kick, there was a lightness to the language that contrasted with the grayer sections of sadder, more difficult times. However, even the descriptions of the dreary parts of living through war, came alive with Kick’s determined demeanor, which added to the three-dimensional portrait of Kick. From how Maher described her, it was no wonder Kick fell in love with England, the land of “stay calm, and carry on,” because Maher surely shows that this was something that Kick was unwilling to let go of, even in the face of adversity. It was also interesting to see how Maher modulated her prose to match the action of the book.

The action of this book covers when Kick “came out” to society, not in the US, but in the UK while her father was the US Ambassador there. This means that Kick was presented to the King and Queen, and came of age just prior to the outbreak of World War II. Maher then goes into detail about the ensuing years of the war’s outbreak in Europe, the family’s return to the US, the involvement of America in the war, and Kick’s return to England, and Billy, of course. Throughout this, Maher never loses sight of her protagonist, and despite all the (somewhat annoying) “name-dropping” of the many well- and lesser-known people in Kick’s orbit, on both sides of the ocean. In this way, we get a fully intimate look at this woman, and that made her not only lovable, but ultimately admirable, which is a testament to Maher’s talent.

If I had to point to one thing that proved why I enjoyed this book, it would have to be the death of Joe Jr. in the war. I already knew full well that the beloved, first-born son of the Kennedys died in battle, so I was actually anticipating that part of the novel. What surprised me – in a good way – was how Maher had built up the relationship between Kick and Joe Jr. so carefully that when I read about how she found out about his death, I actually started crying, almost as if I wasn’t expecting this to happen! To evoke that kind of emotion from a reader in such a situation is truly a tribute to Maher’s ability, particularly with a debut novel. Moreover, I also admired how Maher didn’t stoop to obvious foreshadowing of the other tragedies in Kick’s life or the Kennedy family, and allowed us to see a woman who could envision a long and happy future for herself. As you can see, I can’t find much to fault with this novel (except for the “name-dropping” bit), and I’m thrilled to have gotten to know this very impressive, but practically forgotten, Kennedy. That’s why I’m going to warmly recommend it and give it a full five stars, and I look forward to whatever Maher writes next.

First line: Presentation day.

Summary: In her debut novel, author Kerri Maher introduces us to Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy. She is the second oldest daughter of Ambassador Joe Kennedy Sr. While living in London Kick does everything a good debutante is supposed to do. She attends balls, is presented to the King and socializes with the aristocracy. However, she wants something more. When she meets Billy Hartington, the heir to the dukedom of Cavendish, she finds what she has been looking for. Their dreams are derailed when Hitler invades Poland and Kick is sent back to the United States. She becomes even more determined to return to England and the man she loves even if it means defying her family and her religion.

Highlights: A fantastic example of biographical fiction! Everyone in the U.S. has grown up hearing about John F. Kennedy and his family. However, I had never heard of his sister, Kathleen. I was fascinated by her story. She was a young debutante who was practically American royalty. She lived in England and fell in love with the heir to a dukedom. Her life though was not perfect. She had many struggles in her life.
My heart broke for her when her family and society were against her relationship because she was Catholic and he was Protestant. The author does a great job of bringing her confusion and inner battles to the reader. I cannot imagine how hard it must have been for her to make a choice between the man she loved and her family. I liked this look into the life of the Kennedys. Her parents were very strong willed and wanted their children to achieve great success, which several of them reached. Kick became the rebellious one who followed her heart.
I was nearly in tears (which rarely happens) while finishing this book. The family became so real on the pages and their heartbreaks became mine as well. This was wonderfully researched and written. I cannot wait to see what Kerri Maher writes next!

Lowlights: While I appreciated the insight into Kick’s years of separation from Billy and the personal struggle to come to terms with what life with him would entail, I felt that it stretched out a little too much. For several chapters we watch as she continues to debate and think about her choices. I felt that this made us understand how important it was but at the same time, it slowed the plot down.

FYI: If you love the Kennedys or World War II historical fiction than I would highly recommend this!

This is a great book for book clubs! It was fascinating to read about a Kennedy I've never learned much about. Poor Kick had more than her fair share of family issues and struggles in love. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the Kennedys or the era.

Historical fiction is a favorite of mine, and this gem validates why. The Kennedy Debutante focuses on the life on Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy, which is a sister that I knew very little about. Maher did a fantastic job of bringing her to life in this novel and creating a narrative around her time in London while Joe Sr. was ambassador. Kick is my kind of gal, strong, independent, and a tad rebellious. She knew how to make the family respectable in London, but still maintained her identity. As a result, she was highly popular, and the eye of many gentlemen. She only had eyes for one, Billy Hartington, who was a Protestant, and therefore not someone her family wanted her to marry (e.g. he was not Catholic). She struggled with this factor for many years before finding a way to make it work, and I don't know that I would have waited that long, but I think she earned respect from many people for doing so. There were other insights offered into this book, that although this was fiction, were still helpful to understand. For example, I did not realize what had happened to Rosemary Kennedy, or Joe Jr., both were horrible and sad.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone. I learned so much more about the Kennedy's, and I cannot get enough about this family. Great insight was provided about Joe Sr and Rose as well. The pacing is steady, it did not lag at all for me. I loved learning about British society back then, as well as the differences between Catholics and Protestants and their views on intermarrying. And most of all, I loved Kick, she was an amazing character (and person), that should get more discussion and focus. I'm glad that appears to be happening now.

Thank you to NetGalley for an electronic arc to review. All opinions above are my own.

I enjoyed reading this book for the most part. i knew nothing about Kick Kennedy but found her refreshing in a period when society, position, and religion played a strong role in history. This historical fiction novel chronicles Kick's debut in society and her emergence as a strong woman on her own..
I felt that a bit more editing is needed to shorten the story. Some of the information really doesn't add to the book, it just makes it longer. If you want to learn more about the Kennedy family, this is a good book to read since it has been researched well. However, if your are reading for pleasure, it can be a bit long winded in spots. I found the story interesting and would rate it 3.5 stars.

I’m not a Kennedy person; meaning I don’t know much about them. I do feel that they certainly are a tragic and at times triumphant family. Kick is probably the most interesting of all of them. She followed her heart both times she feel in love. Even though she died young, she lived life to the fullest and on her terms which for that period of time is amazing.

I thought that the story of her and Billy was fascinating. To think that you couldn’t marry because of your religion probably seems archaic to us. Although I’m sure there are some areas that still follow these rules.

I could picture England while reading this book just as clearly as New York as well.

Me. Maher clearly did her research but she also allowed herself to not get mired down by the facts, which made the story extra enjoyable.

I inwardly cringe every time the Kennedy Family is portrayed as "American royalty.'' No, no, no. Wealthy? Yes. Privileged? Yes. Powerful? Without a doubt. But I hate seeing them put on a pedestal. Digging into the history and behavior of the Kennedy clan can be quite a disturbing experience. One daughter lobotomized to avoid scandal and hidden away for the rest of her life. Another dead in Europe before her time, separated from her family because she defied her father. Two sons shot to death. One son getting away with murder after letting a girl drown in his car at Chappaquiddick. It's not a golden story....but a really dark and sad one. And all for ambition, power and greed. Seems such a waste.

After listening to an audio book about the life and lobotomizing of Rosemary Kennedy earlier this year, I wanted to learn more about her sister, Kathleen "Kick'' Kennedy, so I snapped up this book! Kick grew up in privilege, enjoying Europe in the 1930's when her father was an ambassador and becoming a bright, beautiful debutante. Much was expected of her by her parents. They had ambitions for their family and expected Kick to tow the line. She didn't. She fell in love with an Englishman that her family did not approve of. Kick defied her family, choosing love over duty to her parents' ambitions. Her choices had consequences.

Although I found the Kick's story disturbing and sad, the book is well-written and filled in some gaps in my knowledge of her life and experiences. This is Kerri Maher's debut novel. I will definitely be looking for more by this new author! This book was informative, obviously well-researched and very interesting.

I think I need to lay off books about the Kennedy family for awhile though. It's just too much......with nothing really hopeful or uplifting coming out of any of it. Sad. No reflection on Maher's book -- the book is excellent! Great debut novel! Just thoughts about the family and all the destruction that came in the wake of extreme ambition. Power corrupts.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

This fictionalized account of 'Kick' Kennedy beginning with her debut before the court in England shows great insight into the Kennedy family. This extremely close family during this time period is emphasised. Kick's devotion to her Catholic upbringing is tested as she falls in love with a Protestant. It's enjoyable to read about Kick as a socialite but the story does drag a bit.

As with Therese Anne Fowler’s A Well-Behaved Woman, my experience of Kerri Maher’s The Kennedy Debutante was undermined by my familiarity with the subject matter and a very defined expectation regarding its fictionalization. My reading was also impacted by my admiration for Marius Gabriel’s interpretation of both Rose and Rosemary in The Ocean Liner.

Fair or not, I can only comment on my experiences and perspective so please consider context before passing judgment and proceed with the knowledge that the following contains spoilers.

Like Fowler, Maher has an eye for subject matter and I found no flaw in her writing. I think many readers will fall in love with this story, but I personally wanted more from it. I certainly understand the romanticism surrounding an American marrying into the upper echelons of British society, but I think Kick was a far more complex character than the society darling presented between these pages.

Though she pursued a very different goal, I think she was as ambitious and determined as her father before her. I think the story substituted Jack and Rosemary to bolster the narrative where Joe Jr. was the more appropriate historical counterpart and I feel very strongly that Kick’s story began the day Billy died. Maher disagrees and there is nothing wrong with that, but my tastes favor stories with more depth and heavier motifs.

My commentary is personal opinion and its only relevance is in illustrating my point of view. The Kennedy Debutante is a well-researched novel that includes details that will appeal to both family enthusiasts and those discovering the story for the first time, it simply missed my inflated mark and while I stand by my feelings, I’d have no trouble recommending this title to other readers as light biographic fiction.

Despite her Irish roots, Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, of that Catholic clan, captivates London with her wicked wit and considerable charms. As war looms, she falls for Billy Harrington, a staunch Protestant and future Duke of Devonshire, and Kick must choose between her faith—and family—and her heart. A riveting true tale of forbidden love.