When you think of the Kennedy family, you often think of the well known Kennedy’s. JFK Jr. Jackie. Robert. JFK. I had no idea that there were 9 Kennedy children, and specifically one that had such a great life story and one that was told so well. Kathleen “Kit” Kennedy was the 4th Kennedy child and the story centers around her and her family’s time in England before the war started. Part love story, part struggle with personal faith, you learn about the Kennedys from a far different perspective in this novel.

Though at times her religious struggle felt repetitive, and drawn out, I found the novel interesting, as it sounds included many facts about the family, as well as about Kit and Rosemary, the oldest Kennedy, who I didn’t even know existed! A quick and fascinating read!!

Starting with Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy’s debut into London society, this novel envisions the life of the glamourous Kennedy daughter from her father’s debut as ambassador to London in 1938 through the end of World War II. Despite what the press may say, not all in Kick’s life is as shiny as it seems. Kick longs to have her own life, preferably in the city she came to love. She is eager to escape a strict regimen organized by her parents and the antics of her older brothers. Though she loves her older sister, Kick is tired of having to help keep an eye on Rosemary due to the elder sister’s behavior. Still, she attends parties with the British of her class and becomes good friends with many, including Debo Mitford. She also finds herself falling for Billy Hartington, the future Duke of Devonshire, while knowing their differences in faith would prevent the union. Few see or understand her struggles.

When the outbreak of war forces Kick from London, she does all she can to return. First, she took a job at a newspaper in Washington, D.C., then eventually the Red Cross. In both positions, Kick must provide she can stand on her own two feet. Upon her eventual return to Britain, Kick must face the biggest struggle for the future she desires, that of her faith. Could she, a devout Catholic, marry her one true love, a Protestant? If so, how would that change her life?

As a whole, the novel was well-written and well-researched. This led to a wide array of details included, about not only Kick and her family’s lives but also the era. Making the novel better was that these details were effortlessly incorporated into the flow of the prose. Mahler states in the author’s note that she used a plethora of biographies and primary source documents stored at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in her research. Readers will also gain an insight not only to Kick’s life, but that of her closest family members (Joe, Sr., Joe, Jr, Jack, Rose, and Rosemary), and their associated struggles. Kick’s struggle to decide the best path in life for herself was at the forefront of the novel and readers rode the same emotional tidal wave as Mahler envisions Kick did. In its essence, this novel is a coming-of-age story.

Kathleen, Kick Kennedy is ready for her life to start after years in Convent Schools and London, where her father is Ambassador seems the perfect place. After a newsworthy presentation at Court she finds a group of friends and sets out to find her life in prewar London. Her family, her Father's politics and their Roman Catholicism create obstacles that Kick must conquer to be true to herself. A story of a strong, independent woman that struggles with family ties and expectations to create the life she wants.

Excellent read... kept me up last last night finishing it, and crying! I thought I found a slight error (Catholic mass on Saturday night) and had to google it!

The Kennedy Debutante is a fabulous read about a fascinating American family. Kathleen Kennedy was an energetic soul who led a spirited life. Raised as a strict Catholic in a traditional Irish American family, "Kick" found herself at odds with her parents when she fell in love with a Protestant aristocrat and chose to make her home an ocean away from them. Much has been written about the Kennedy family, but The Kennedy Debutante is a stellar piece of Historical Fiction, focused on one woman's too short life. Not to be missed.

I thought this book was okay, since I have never read anything about Kathleen Kennedy. So, it was interesting to find out more about her life, the years in England and her relationship with her family. I thought the writing could have been better - I never connected with or felt much for any of the characters, even though these were real people. I think there are many who will love this book, but for me it was just okay.

It was refreshing reading a book about a female Kennedy for a change. I've read many books about the male members of the Kennedy family so hearing about Kathryn was refreshing. I enjoyed her antics, her loyalty to friends and family but most of all I enjoy hearing about what she thought and felt.

Kathryn or kick as her friends and family call her was very well rounded and educated. I liked she was as fun-loving as she was determined to stay true to herself.

Overall an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it for a great summer read.

This is a historical fiction on the life of Kathleen Kennedy. She was the second oldest daughter of the Kennedy clan. She was strong, determined, loyal and faithful. Because of these attributes she finds herself in situations where she is forced to choose what she deems right. She is a devout Catholic. So is the rest of her family. She can see the double standards that the girls have to follow and get brothers don't. She marries the young man she had dated of and on. He's is Protestant. Her family are devastated. Her oldest brother Joe Sr. is on her side and offers his support. I can't begin to share this book with you that gives credit to the Author for her impeccable writing of this story. It's heartwarming, heartbreaking and shows unbelievable talent for this Author. Strongly recommend!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the novel. The historical facts are interesting. A sad retelling of an interesting young woman's life.

I had the opportunity to read this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. What a delightful novel. I knew only peripherally about the sisters of the Kennedy clan, their famous brothers hogging the spotlight. I hadn't looked her up until I was almost done with the book so I didn't know what happened to her. Yet another Kennedy tragedy and she coincidentally died like her famous nephew John Jr. So many years later.

What I liked: I enjoyed the voice the author used telling the story with Kick's voice. There was nothing forced or over the top. I can now imagine what it would have been like to be Rose's daughter especially when she waited 4 years to marry her dearest love. I assume she was as close with her brothers as was portrayed and this I loved. I also enjoyed the glimpse into upper crust London society of the time. Kick sounds by this account like she was a captivating young woman.

What I didn't like: the book ended right after Billy and Joe were killed. It would have been interesting to include the time post that event leading up to her death but herbals the author didn't find those years as interesting.

This book was excellent from the first page to the last. Even the two afterwords were interesting and indispensable. Knowing just the highlights of Kick’s life and death, I was glad to have her story filled in. The characters on both sides of the ocean were alive and I celebrated and cried along with them. I will recommend this book to my friends.

Although I knew the stories of Joe Jr., Rosemary and Kathleen (Kick) Kennedy, I really enjoyed this telling. The author did a fine job of combining fact and fiction. She did her research and also was very imaginative concerning the dilemmas the family faced. The sense of place was spot-on. A very enjoyable read.

American dynasty meets English nobility. A wonderfully told story of the young adult life of Kathleen Kennedy in the years leading up to World War II. Experience the challenges, decisions and pressures Kick faced in her search for independence and love. Kerri Maher seamlessly delivers a glimpse into pre war London; war austerity, and the family pressures of “growing up Kennedy”.

Fantastic, spellbinding, historical book, Kerri Maher brought to life the story of Kathleen Kennedy. Her trials and tribulations of love and life from pre WWII through WWII, as a young debutante, a daughter, a sister, a n American, a Catholic, and a Kennedy. My feelings throughout the book were very powerful. When I was done I explained the book to my husband and why I couldn't put it down, He now wants to read it and he isn't an avid reader. This book is well worth your time.

In The Kennedy Debutante, author Kerri Maher writes a fictionalized account of the life of Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy. Beginning in 1938 when Joseph Kennedy Sr. was appointed ambassador to England, Kathleen’s life changed in ways she could never have imagined. It seemed like a fairytale beginning for Kick.

Kick’s experiences in London, and the friends she made there gave her an appreciation for the country she began to think of as home. It was during this time that she met her soulmate, Billy Hartington, son of the Duke of Devonshire and heir to a large estate and an immense fortune. Hartington was smitten by Kick and their relationship grew stronger over time.

Maher combines fact and fiction to write a love story that overcame formidable obstacles, but ended tragically. It’s a novel based on a true story with a likable heroine, famous people, and a glimpse into the lives of America’s most intriguing family, set in wartime Europe and America. It’s hard to put down. Adults interested in the Kennedy family would enjoy this historical novel.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Press, a division of Penguin Random House, and author Kerri Maher for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this fascinating novel.

I'm not a fan of the Kennedys, but I found myself drawn into this story and enjoyed reading it. It was a warm perspective of the older children that didn't live long lives.

A great historical fiction story that I could not put down. It made me feel like i had a better understanding of the the social scene prior to and during WW11. The story is well written and the characters very believable. It did make me cry and thankful for the freedom that women have today.

While not my regular type of genre, I truly enjoyed this book. The characters were done in such a way, you could tell the author had done research or may have even known the Kennedy's. The book gave me a lot of information about the way this young gal had grown up, what was expected of her and the way she fought against it or rebelled in a sense. Excellent read that brings out a vast array of emotions.
Will be reviewing in Chapter Chatter Pub, closer to time or publish date.

5++ stars

I absolutely loved this book and plan to recommend it to everyone I know. The Kennedy Debutante tells the story of Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, sister of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. As I began reading the book, I realized how little I knew about her or any of the lesser known siblings of these two famous men. Maher masterfully unveils Kick’s complex story interweaving details of her staunch Catholic upbringing, her desire to please her strict mother, the effects of her father’s focus on his sons and his ineffectiveness as the U.S.’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, and her relationship with her close-in-age siblings. Overarching a significant portion of the story is Kick’s relationship with Billy Hartington, the future Duke of Devonshire and a devout Protestant. Her Catholicism and his Protestant background created a far greater issue for them with both families than I would have supposed would be the case.

While Kick is the focus of The Kennedy Debutante, Maher interweaves tidbits about the other Kennedy siblings, particularly those she was close to - Joe Jr., Rosemary, Jack, and occasionally Eunice. It was fascinating to learn about their time in London, Jack’s relationships with numerous women, Joe Jr.’s feelings of being overshadowed by his younger, charismatic brother Jack, and many other interesting tidbits. I also liked learning more about the Mitfords through Kick’s close relationship with Deborah Mitford.

Fighting every inclination I had, I waited to Google Kick until I completed the book. Usually when I start a historical fiction novel and encounter people with whom I am unfamiliar, I immediately look them up to learn more about them and put them in context. However, in this instance, I loved The Kennedy Debutante so much that I did not want to spoil the story, and I was very thankful that I waited. I laughed when I finished the book and immediately turned to the Author’s Note (frequently one of my favorite parts of reading historical fiction). Maher’s first sentence started with “Allow me to save you the rush to Google….” as she then proceeded to provide more details on Kick’s life and how she came to write Kick’s story.

The Kennedy Debutante will certainly have a highlighted spot on my top ten list for 2018. Maher hit it out of the park with her debut novel, and I look forward to reading her future endeavors. I highly, highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story – it is a fascinating tale of a strong, independent woman and a glimpse into the lives of a famous American family who endured more heartbreak than one family should have to bear. Grab some tissues before you start the book – you will need them!