I have read multiple books by Gill Paul and this one is by far one of my favorites. I have always been fascinated by the relationship between Jackie and Ari, but I never realized how important Maria was to the story. I found myself more sympathetic towards Maria than I thought I would. Absolutely amazing!

This book kept my attention and is well written. Two women that share one man is not a new topic, but when the characters are actual people, with actual life events, the parallel is stronger.

This fictional account of Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Maria Callas begins in 1957. Maria is at the height of her opera career; her husband does her business dealings, but the romance has long been gone. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy is the dutiful wife of then-senator John F. Kennedy, who is about to run for president. As the story unfolds, the lives of these two women intersect over time, as the two women share the attention of the world’s richest man, Aristotle Onassis. As life goes on for the characters, the reader is taken on a fascinating journey of love, loss, glamor, and intrigue.

Ms. Paul’s rich character development reveals the complexities of these individuals, who although flawed to the core, are also endearingly human. The dialogue was utterly fascinating, plausible, and full of passion. Reading this novel, I felt as if I was there with the characters, enraptured in their world. Even though we know how the story ends, I was compelled to keep reading to learn the intimate details of their lives.

I highly recommend this novel, especially if you enjoy fictional accounts of prominent 20th Century women. This book is similar to Meet Me in Monaco and The Beautiful Strangers, yet utterly unique and special. As usual, I found myself looking up historical details to learn more about the history and the characters.