This ended up not being for me, as I couldn't get into the story or connect with the characters. However, this will appeal to those readers who are interested in the inner lives of the Kennedys!

Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was really excited to read this book. I love learning about Jackie and the Kennedys. However, I just could not get into this book. I finished it because I felt an obligation and not because of the book itself. It was OK, b it just didn’t really keep my attention.

I go through phases with historical fiction and right now I’m absolutely loving them. I’d read Stephanie Marie Thornton’s prior book American Princess which was a fictionalized narrative non-fiction (honestly not sure how to label this specific sub-genre!) about Alice Roosevelt, which I loved. So when I saw And They Called it Camelot: A Novel of Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, I grabbed it right away. I love the way Thornton takes stories about real people grounded in real events and uses her imagination to fill in the other pieces. It feels like reading a memoir, but with the flair of a fiction book.

Jackie Kennedy is truly an icon. She is everything glamour, class, and chic. I went to an exhibit once of just preserved outfits she wore and was photographed in for notable events in history and I felt quite humbled by the experience. After all, the thing about Jackie is that she wasn’t only a style icon, she also is an important historical figure.

Wen I was reading this, I guess I didn’t really put together how young she was in her time as the first lady. Only 31 years old! At a time when men were the changemakers, Jackie O truly carved her own place in history. Her life may seem like a fairy tale, but the more I learned about her and saw the woman behind the legend, I realized how much tragedy she had in her life. Beyond just the assassination of JFK (which was indeed heart breaking), Jackie’s life wasn’t all magic and glamour. I loved reading this because I felt I learned so much more about her and I see her through different eyes.

The novel begins just before Jackie met JFK, which is a period of her life I knew almost nothing about. As we watch the two fall in love and get married, Jackie is dealing with all of the complications that come with marrying into a family like the Kennedys.

And of course, the part we are all ashamed to be curious about—the book touches on JFK’s infidelities. I thought these were handled with a careful hand. We don’t only see what JFK did to Jackie with is affairs (one of which was quite famous—I kept thinking about how humiliating that would be), we also see Jackie as much more than the docile 50s housewife that many assume her to be when it came to the infidelity. Jackie is in love, but more than that, Jackie knows that JFK’s career is bigger than their marriage. The impact he can have on the world is more important than her struggles as his wife.

One thing I also learned about Jackie during this time is how important family is to her. She is a mother to her core, and that’s something I really respected about her.

And yes, Marilyn Monroe is included. But I’ll save that to let you see how Jackie felt about her in the book.
The book also converse JFK’s assassination and Jackie’s retreat from the spotlight after it occurs. One thing I thought interesting is how Thornton portrayed Jackie’s marriage to Aristotle Onassis, a Greek magnate. Thornton makes the case that this was part of Jackie’s desire to remove herself and her family from the public eye and towards a sense of security and privacy.

And of course, the book touches on Jackie’s relationship with Bobby Kennedy. This was interesting—I had always heard rumors of an affair between the two. The book is inconclusive (as is, I believe, historical record). But I do think the book highlights why the two became close through their grief over the loss of Jack.
I could go on and on about this book. If I left it with anything, it was an appreciation for Jackie’s intellect, class, feminism, and strength as a woman and a mother.

Thank you to Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was one of America’s most fashionable First Ladies. She was also a symbol of America’s strength on the dark day when her husband, John F. Kennedy was assassinated. In this historical retelling of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s life, Jackie is shown as a wife, mother and ultimately a survivor.

And They Called It Camelot is a very personal and intimate look at Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. In this novel, it felt like the First Lady’s own autobiography. The reader got to delve into her head as she goes through her two marriages with her husbands- John F. Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was a strong character and had to go through many personal tragedies. She lost three of her children. Both of her husbands were unfaithful to them, and she had to bury them. My heart ached for her each time she had to face a loss. However, I admired her courage to rouse herself out of grief to support her own children. Her children were her strengths. Thus, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was mostly a wife and a mother first and was America’s First Lady second. She was also a woman of perseverance.

Overall, this novel was an in-depth psyche of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. All the characters were very complex. I thought Mrs. Thornton depicted the infamous historical figures very well, especially John F. Kennedy. He was shown as a very complex person who frequently reverted to his bachelor’s ways. My favorite aspect of this novel was Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s relationship with Bobby Kennedy. And They Called It Camelot was a very engrossing read from the first page till the last! Even though it is long, it was a novel that I did not want to end! The novel was very fast-paced that begins by detailing her courtship with John F. Kennedy! This novel will linger with you long after you have finished reading the last page! I recommend this novel for fans of The Kennedy Debutante, The Lost Diary of M, and The Pink Suit! And They Called It Camelot is a symptom banquet for anyone that loves reading about America’s First Ladies!

This was really good and it's definitely well written, but somehow it felt too long.

It's historical fiction, told from the POV of Jackie Kennedy. Of course, unless you live under a rock, you know that this story is filled with tragedy. But I found myself rooting for the characters and hoping that everything was going to turn out well. Obviously it doesn't, but this story sort of draws you in. And that says a lot about the writing.

I definitely recommend this one.

This fictional account of Jackie Kennedy's life, as told through her own eyes, was pulling me in all different directions emotionally. On one hand, I could really see why she fell so hard for Jack, and even why she stayed with him through all his infidelity. On the other hand, her choice of men in general had me smacking my forehead.

I didn't know much about Jackie before reading this. Obviously, I knew about the eventually tragic fates of her family members, and that she remarried at some point. This book really highlights how tragic her life was, and how she never really recovered from losing the love of her life, but also shows how strong she was to endure everything she did, and eventually find her own way in the world, in spite of the crappy way the men in her life treated her. Absolutely heartbreaking but also uplifting.

Advanced review copy from publisher via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

The Kennedy's are an obsession for Americans. I have always been fascinated by Presidents and especially by the FLOTUS. Thornton makes Jackie and Jack humans. Absolutely loved it.

Kennedy fans will enjoy this book. I have read quite a few Camelot books and this tells a good story of their years together and then the time after.

I received an ARC of this book for my review

Many books have been written about Jackie Kennedy Onassis, but this one is different. A historical fiction, written in "Jackie's words," allows the author to tell the reader what Jackie might have been thinking and/or feeing during various moments in her life. In a short span of time, she lost three babies, a husband, and a beloved brother-in-law. Not content to join "the ladies who lunch," she was largely responsible for saving New York's Grand Central Station. The story is not depressing, but allows the reader to think about Jackie's life in a different way. She was a survivor. Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest opinions.

It is unbelievable the oceans of sadness and grief that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis traveled, especially during the time frame covered by this novel. Her story is unforgettable, and she proves to be a compelling character. Highly recommended.

A wonderful retelling of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis' life using her voice. This reads like an autobiography. One knows the history of the time, but to read the thoughts and feelings of Jackie was fascinating. Her loves, her doubts, her children, her passions are all part of this novel. If you enjoy historical fiction, this book is for you.

I featured this title and will provide details directly to the publisher during the next round of this review process.

Historical fiction is such an interesting way to open a reader's eyes to the private life of a public icon. Thanks for giving me a glimpse into Jackie Kennedy's life.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

And They Called It Camelot is a wonderfully engaging and well written historical fiction written by Stephanie Marie Thornton. Ms. Thornton takes us from when Jacqueline and Jack first met, their wonderful (and at times tumultuous) life together, life with Onassis and to the dedication of the JFK Library in Boston with Jackie as the story teller.

I truly enjoyed this story. I will not go into great depth with respect to the content of the story for that is for you to find out when you pick up this book and read it for yourself.

While I realize this book is a fictionalized (but fact-based) story, it felt like an actual memoir. The details and accounts made me feel as I was there, experiencing the life and times of Jackie O as she would have actually told it. Of course, I do realize that Ms. Thornton did take license in some of the events (timing and details) to make this story flow and read as well as it does.

The actual events of Jacqueline’s life that was already in the public domain was well told (but of course, it was being told by Jackie!) and provided memories of an era gone by for this reader. The writer’s enhancements were clarified in the Author’s Note. So do read those note’s (I know – I usually don’t – but will from now on)! I also loved the smattering of French throughout the book.

We get a sense of the dichotomy of Jackie. She had the outward persona as a First Lady and her inward persona as a wife of a man who was unfaithful, powerful yet loved his family beyond a shadow of a doubt. As I continued to read the novel, I found myself sympathizing with Jackie and the frustrations and insecurities she must have felt while trying to be the wife of JFK. Above all else, I truly felt her passion and commitment as a mother to all her children, not just Caroline and John, but to the three that she also lost either prior to or just after birth. Also, how she tried to manage the pitfalls of being in a family – not just the Bouvier but the Kennedy clan as well. She was a strong woman, who set out goals (refurbishing the White House) and achieved them with what I like to call “gumption”, fortitude and resilience when met with obstacles.

The storytelling was a delight to read, so much so that I found it very hard to put the book down. I could not wait until life afforded me the time to read again. As a matter of fact, Ms. Thornton’s story telling has me putting on my TBR pile another book or two she has written.

*OBS would like to thank the author for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

And They Called It Camelot explores the life of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, widely considered an international icon of fashion and culture. And she was, but she was also a woman plagued with self-doubt and fears just as much as she was graceful and intelligent. Although this is a work of fiction, I feel like I learned so much about Jackie outside the First Lady we put on a pedestal. This novel definitely challenges the notions we have of who Jackie Kennedy actually was.

This book is historical fiction and although Thornton had to take liberties in writing, it often seemed as though I was reading a memoir. It can be difficult to write in first-person when the subject is somebody people think they know so well, but Thornton is thoroughly convincing. Jackie is contradictory. She’s portrayed as confident, complex, reserved and insecure, which makes her character so much more realistic. I found myself championing for her, crying with her and everything in between.

I don’t think I realized how much of a role Jackie had in creating the man that John F. Kennedy was before reading this novel. JFK was a flawed man, as we all are flawed people, but I loved getting to know him through Jackie. We saw him through her eyes and her heart and I felt as if I better understood their relationship coming out of this.

Revisiting this time in American history was bittersweet. This was an extremely well researched book and I found myself constantly putting the book down to Google images and events that were mentioned. Although you need to take this novel with a grain of salt, I felt it was an authentic take of Jackie’s story. I particularly loved that the novel extended beyond her relationship with JFK and into the aftermath of his death and how it shaped the rest of her life. Another well done book by Stephanie Thornton.

An absolute gem of a book. This was a fascinating story of Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: even though the book was fiction, so much of it was based on what actually happened it's like you were reading a memoir or autobiography. It must have been so fun for the author to imagine the closed door conversations between Jackie and Jack, and the Kennedys. I loved seeing her close relationship with Bobby too.

I love reading about American political history, and this was honestly a perfect book for me: a semi-fictionalized account of one of the most famous political families in America. I also learned a lot about Jackie after her life as first lady and opened my eyes to all of the tragedy she faced in her life and I have an insane newfound respect for her.

This is hands down, the best historical fiction book I've read since the Nightingale a few years ago.

I’ve had a Jackie Kennedy fascination for years, and this fictionalized adaption of her life just before, during, and after JFK is just fantastic. I loved the author’s novel on Alice Roosevelt, and Thornton does not disappoint with her sophomore release. Camelot’s clear prose, rich details, and humanizing touch to iconic characters makes it impossible to put down. I’ve admittedly been underwhelmed by previous fictional treatments of JKO, but this one is outstanding. I can’t wait to discover who Stephanie Marie Thornton writes about next.

Review will be posted on 4/7/2020

Readers know what happens to President John F. Kennedy on that infamous day in November, but Thornton takes us back even further to Jackie before Jack. After we are reminded of Kennedy's assassination, readers are then transported to Jackie when she is working as a photographer for the Washington Times Herald and dating a stockbroker. While attending dinner at a friend's house, she meets John F. Kennedy. She knows all about his reputation and the fact that she probably shouldn't give him the time of the day, but she can't help but be intrigued. Things get more serious when he starts pursuing her and Jackie succumbs to his boyish charms. However, Jackie isn't just some vapid woman in search of a husband. She wants more for herself and she knows that she has a good head on her shoulders. She helps Jack countless times in so many ways throughout their relationship, such as, helping him write his award winning book, recover from surgery, translate important documents, charm the Paris crowds,......you name it, she did it and did it very well. Thornton takes us on the wild ride of Jackie's life through the time that she dated Jack all the way to her second marriage to Aristotle Onassis. Through it all, she remains an inspirational person despite all the tragedy in her life. Fans of the Kennedy family as well as historical fiction will appreciate And They Called it Camelot by Stephanie Marie Thornton. It's going down as one of my favorite historical novels of the year.

I have read a few books about Jackie's life, but Thornton takes it to a whole other level in And They Called it Camelot. She brings Jackie to life so well that it almost feels like a behind the scenes glimpse into her life. Jackie isn't just a smart girl who dresses well; she is so much more and Thornton truly made her so compelling. I love learning more about her ability to speak many languages and in turn, help Jack with translating things. I also appreciated her interest in fashion, renovating the White House, and supporting Jack on the road during elections. But Jackie can't escape tragedy; Jackie is faced with so adversity right alongside the Kennedy family. Nonetheless, I found her to be inspirational, because despite all she faced, she never gave up. She kept going.

It's sort of hard to believe that so much tragedy could occur to one family, but we all know it's true. It was absolutely heart-wrenching at certain points in And They Called It Camelot. Despite the fact that Kennedys have money and power, they weren't immune to health issues, death, and infertility issues. It was heartbreaking at times, but you have to respect a group of people that keep getting up after they fall. I also appreciated how Thornton depicted the Kennedy family and their "Camelot." Kennedy fans will thoroughly enjoy her portrayal of all the members of the famous family. I wanted to jump into the pages and spend more time with them long after I finished the novel.

Readers can really tell that Thornton meticulously researched the Kennedys and the time period in And They Called it Camelot. None of it felt inauthentic; in fact, it felt like the pages of a history book were coming to live in the most fascinating way. I've read many fictionalized books about the Kennedys and I have to say, this is one of my favorites. Historical fiction fans, you won't want to miss this one!

Absolutely brilliant! I confess that I thought I knew Jackie O’s story... wife to JFK, First Lady, wife to Onassis, mother to JFK Jr. and fashion icon. How very wrong I was. She was so much more. I can truly say that I have a new found respect for her and the dignity she showed in the face of so much tragedy. And there was a lot of tragedy in her life that I knew nothing about. Thornton’s writing was flawless and the intimacy she conveyed in the telling of this story was amazing. I felt like I was having tea with Jackie while she told me her story. I loved that she included a scene with spunky Alice Roosevelt whom Sophie wrote of in her novel American Princess. If you have not been fortunate enough to read SMT before, I encourage you to grab one of her novels. I promise it won’t be the last one you read. 5 big stars!

Although Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis lived an extraordinary, privileged life, it was not one without intense amounts of heartache and strife, as evidenced in Stephanie Marie Thornton's new novel And They Called it Camelot. "Camelot" chronicles Jacqueline's life from the early days of she and John F. Kennedy's storied relationship through her marriage to shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. Thornton's novel about the sensationalized life of Jackie O is compelling, well-researched, and heartfelt, and is a must-read for lovers of biographical and historical fiction.

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis is the stuff of legend. Arguably the best known and most popular First Lady of all the time, Jacqueline's eventful life was both a dream and a nightmare. Married to the handsome JFK, 35th President of the United States, Jacqueline experienced both storybook romance and heartache throughout their time together. A known womanizer, Kennedy purportedly cheated on Jackie often, and combined with several miscarriages and a stillbirth, Jackie's life with the enigmatic JFK was anything but tranquil. But we all know there was something much worse waiting in the wings for this young couple - the assassination of JFK as he sat alongside Jacqueline in a Dallas motorcade. As Jacqueline feels her way through grief after the death of her husband, she eventually takes comfort in the arms of her brother-in-law Bobby Kennedy, who several years later would meet the same untimely fate as his older brother JFK. After suffering two great losses, Jacqueline eventually finds herself pursued by one of the wealthiest men in the world - Aristotle Onassis - although their relationship and subsequent marriage to him was anything but a fairytale. Yes, Jacqueline Kennedy may have experienced more opportunity than most throughout her life, but she has also endured her share of grief.

And They Called it Camelot, named for a comment made by Jacqueline after JFK's assassination in which she likened the Kennedy presidency to Camelot, is a revealing glimpse into the life of a woman that many may have believed to have known, but few actually did. Thornton pulls the curtain away from Jacqueline's life, showing us a side of her that was often not reported in the press. Thornton deftly writes on love and heartache, showing Jacqueline to be a complex woman who put the lives of those she loved before her own. For those who have ever been mystified by the life of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, And They Called it Camelot is not one to be missed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.