Beautifully written. Once again an interesting historical fiction. Fascinating characters. Paul seems to be spot on with the characters and their feeling of emotions through so many different occasions. It is really difficult to spot what is fiction, that's how smooth the writing is. It's appealing when the author posts wee snippets of historical fact on social media so it draws you to the book but it also shows how much the author has researched the characters and what has happened.

An interesting tale of two women - Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas - told alternately by them in the wake of the death of Jackie's first husband, John F. Kennedy. She takes comfort in the arms of Aristotle Onassis, one of the world's most wealthiest men. But hiding in the shadows is opera singer Maria Callas, who has been Ari's lover for years. And so the two women's lives intertwine around the man they both love.

Jackie Kennedy Onassis was one of the world's most glamourous and iconic women. And in her own way, Maria Callas was also, albeit dfficult. This book is a glimpse into the life of the rich and famous and how the other half lived.

Although it is a fictional account, it does combine fact with fiction through historical events that helped shaped the women's lives. The reader is drawn into their worlds and feels sympathy for the sadness and tragedy that has befallen them.

A truly different book than my usual choice but an interesting read all the same. I did not like Ari Onassis at all, as if his wealth gave him the right to be so entitled. A thoroughly unlikeable man. Of course I knew of him growing up, as well as Jackie Kennedy Onassis, but this historical tale sheds a certain light on their lives, even though fiction has been entwined with fact.

THE SECOND MARRIAGE is interesting as well as engaging although not entirely enjoyable. Not because of the story but the tragedy and sorrow two women bore from both their lives and that of Onassis himself. A thoroughly hateful character made him difficult to stomach at times.

I would like to thank #GillPaul, #NetGalley and #AvonBooks for an ARC of #TheSecondMarriage in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

I have previously loved Gill Paul's books relating to the Romanov family. I tell everyone to read The secret Wife. However, this fell flat. I was just not interested enough and unlike her previous books, this read like fanfiction rather then a retelling. I think in her previous books about the Romanovs there was an element of mystery surrounding their deaths, where as with this story it was driven by rumours. I will pick up more of her books in the future, but this one just was not for me,

Ok, so everyone in this is awful. Now it maybe that they were in real life but this somehow manages to deny the women any agency or any control over their behaviour or their lives and make every single character - major or minor- extremely hard to like. I’ve read a lot of novels fictionalising real events and real people, and it is possibly to do so much better than this.

The real life lives here have plenty of drama, and the author says she’s done a tonne of research, but the female leads are incredibly thinly drawn - we don’t know much about them or their inner lives and desires (except being in love and wanting babies) which makes it seem hard to understand why they are making the decisions they are making. As for Onassis, you never really get any sense of why all these women fell at his feet - if it wasn’t just the money. But he must have had something about him on top of that for all these women to have fallen at his feet - at least in the book you could try to make him charismatic!

Never mind.

Enjoyable and interesting read, was good to know the history and great insight into the people. Would recommend this book

Another fantastic book by Gil Paul.She draws us into the world of Jackie Kennedy and Marie callas both strong women both in love with ArinObasis.Historical fiction T it’s best.#netgalley #avonbooksuk

I am a huge fan of historical books so reading The Second Marriage was like taking a stroll in heaven. The character’s lives (mostly Maria) were so far fetched yet so relatable. I didn’t know much about Maria Callas or The Kennedy’s but now i am totally hooked on them.
Read Full Review: https://www.thechronicalist.com/2020/12/02/the-second-marriage-book-review/

I was a kid when JFK was shot and remember Jackie Kennedy the glamorous, fashion conscious widow. Also,film of Maria Callas was always on arts programmes etc. So on one level this book felt right., But on another it is as unsatisfying as The Crown.
It's easy to get into and moves at a good pace, but I found myself analysing each bit for authenticity, If it had been about a famous widow and a fames opera star - but entirely fictitious it would have a great book, but as it was, it was unsettling and spoilt the flow wne facts and "facts" were mixed.
The scene where Onasis cons the mistress that the Orthodox church is blessing their adulterous union in front of their spouses is pretty far fetched, but one learns form the author's notes that that part is actually true!
I found it frustrating but would certainly try a Gill Paul fiction novel in the future

The Second Marriage by Gill Paul
**** 4/5 rating
A fictional novel based on two intriguing and famous women in the 20th century, Jackie Kennedy/Onassis and opera singer Maria Callas. Two very strong and iconic women who were unlucky in love.
I had to keep reminding myself the novel was a work of fiction but nevertheless I was hooked. Told from the view of both women, who ultimately ignored the shortcomings, suffered humiliation but fell for the charm of Ari Onassis.
Jackie and Maria should never have found themselves vying for the attention or love of Onassis but love is a powerful emotion. Gill Paul managed to capture the essence of her characters thus making the novel a success.
A good read, recommended.
Thanks to Gill Paul, HarperCollins and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book for which I have written an honest and unbiased review.

I was not sure what to expect from this book, but I loved it. It really brought Maria Callas and Jackie O to life. Although it is a work of fiction, I imagined that a lot of the situations and meetings are based on some fact. A real insight into the 2 famous women and the man that linked them together.

I love this author's books, the amount of research that she must do is huge.
They are exceptionally written, they just pull you in and quite frankly leave you feeling bereft when you have come to end of the journey.
I felt like I was in the book with the characters, observing their lives and feeling their pain and love.

A perfect read, highly recommended.

The Second Marriage is Gill Paul's latest captivating fictional interpretation of true historic events. This time, she focuses on two women - Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Maria Callas. Enigmatic in their own ways, it follows them over a couple of decades as their lives intertwine in more ways than one. We delve into Jackie's marriage to JFK, her grieving process and subsequent marriage to Ari Onassis. On the other hand, we follow Callas through her stellar singing career and her long-term affair with Ari.

Personally, I hadn't even heard of Maria Callas before reading this book and I knew very little about Jackie Kennedy. So, this book taught me a lot about the Kennedy and Onassis families, which I found fascinating. This is one of the things I love about historical fiction novels - that they're both interesting and informative. The Second Marriage fits this bill perfectly. I found myself feeling all the emotions when it came to the two starring females - frustration, triumph, sadness, you name it. I think this is what makes this a stellar book that I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

What an amazing story that Gill Paul brings to life. Each of the characters are well known by the public Maria Callas, Jackie Kennedy and Ari Onassis and the other multitude of people who they interact with in the course of their lives. We learn from each of the charcters their own take on what is happening. From Maria's marriage to her interaction with Ari to their affair and the birth and death of their baby. Then when Jackie's sister comes into the action and eventually how Jackie finds peace away from her husband's affairs and how Ari then sees her as his ultimate goal! The novel brings to life their galmourous lives and we are swept up in the story which bounds along at a pace. Yet at the end we are aware of the heart breaking tale that surrounds each of the main characters.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel.

An interesting storyline that combines fact with fiction.; that had me searching the main characters.
The story begins in the late 1950's, when JFK was running for President; Maria Callas was a famous opera singer and Aristotle Onassis was making millions.
The storyline takes us through until the 1970's. Love, friendship and death cements their lives.
I enjoyed reading about these characters as they are all infamous in their own rights.
I enjoyed reading this book as well as researching the historical facts as well.

I loved, loved, loved this book. Facts and fiction woven together to make a gripping story. I was sad to finish even though I knew how this ended for many characters. I was googling crazily to read more about them and find out how much was fact. We all know a lot about Jacquie Kennedy but I had little knowledge of her sister Lee and opera diva Maria Callas. They were truly fascinating also. I loved learning more about the abundance of wealth from Aristotle Onassis and the opulent lifestyle it gave them. Set in all the glamour of the US and Europe. A fantastically researched book.

Every time I read a Gill Paul book I am in awe at her incredible writing skills and her ability to fluidly and effortlessly weave a story around events and people that we are all familiar with. So it is safe to say I am a huge fan of her books. This book may just be her best yet.

Set around three icons of the 20th Century, Maria Callas - famed opera singer, Jackie Kennedy - wife of the late John F. Kennedy and former First Lady, and the man they both wanted, Greek shipping billionaire Aristotle Onassis.

It is hard to believe that conversations and certain situations are fictional in this book, it is so mesmerizing. Set in glamorous locations such as the White House and aboard the famed Onassis yacht, The Christina, we are given the background to Maria Callas, how she met Onassis and how she passionately she loved him. We meet Jackie, married to JFK, unaware of the tragedy that lies ahead, and we meet the man between them, Aristotle Onassis.

This is simply the best of historical fiction. Gill's writing makes you feel as though you know these two women personally, their highs, their lows and how they deal with everything that life throws at them. This book is fascinating, enthralling, completely immersive and totally captivating. Do yourself a favour and buy it now! Five easy stars!

A thoroughly enjoyable read that I am surprised that I loved so much, as it is not my normal genre of book. I was worried that it would be a tad gossipy, but I was engrossed from start to finish. How the rich live and the choices made in love when we are the most vulnerable are obviously not reserved just for the rich and famous after all. This novel was perfectly believable although the author can only speculate about the true feelings of Maria Callas and Jackie Kennedy. The lot of two such iconic women and their famous partners is a web of mystery and intrigue. The true feelings of these women have now been taken to the grave but these accounts are based on thorough research and I was hooked.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book for an honest review.

As with some of the author's previous books, fact is woven with fiction to produce a fascinating tale featuring two famous women, opera singer Maria Callas and former First Lady Jackie Kennedy and tells the story of their romantic entanglement with Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis. Whilst Jackie’s history with the Kennedys is well documented – I knew very little about Maria Callas. This story shines a light on Maria’s 9 year romance/affair with Onassis. It was so hard not to feel sympathy for Maria. She genuinely loved him and he treated her appallingly. Whereas it seems that Jackie, following the death of President Kennedy was so distraught and scared that her decision to marry him was more based on the need for safety and protection and, of course he was extremely rich!

The timeframe covers the period from 1957 to 1977 and I felt that it had been very well researched. It’s rich with detail and historical facts and many famous names feature throughout the story including Winston Churchill and Marilyn Monroe. The tragic events of November 1963 in Dallas are seen from Jackie’s perspective together with the aftermath of grief and the peace that eluded her unless she drank herself to sleep.

From the hand that Maria was dealt by having such an awful mother who made her feel so inadequate and betrayed her by telling lies about her to the press, it’s no surprise that this led to insecurities which affected her throughout her life. Jackie too had a difficult relationship with a mother who believed that money was everything. The two women were so alike in some ways – including both loving men who seemed incapable of remaining faithful.

The author freely admits at the back of the book that this is not a historical retelling of events – this may be her interpretation but the dialogue and narrative are so beautifully written whilst well known documented facts intertwine seamlessly with fiction. There is so much in this story of glamour, love, loss and betrayal to savour and enjoy. I loved it.

I’m a huge fan of this author’s books as I absolutely love the way she writes absorbing historical fiction. This story was no exception and I soon found myself drawn into the story and into the glamorous lives of the characters. The author’s vivid descriptions meant I was able to perfectly imagine the scenes and I often felt like I was actually there watching everything unfold.

The characters are real life historical characters who I loved following throughout the book. I knew a little about Jackie but Maria was a completely new character to me so I found it very interesting to find out more about her. I had expected to like one of them over the other, but I didn’t find that to be the case. Instead I felt like a neutral bystander as I thought both woman deserved happiness. It was quite shocking at times how both of them were used so I also felt a lot of sympathy for them. I really did not like Onassis however as he came across as quite an unfeeling, calculating man which I kept hoping the two woman would realise.

Overall I thought this was a very intriguing book which was the perfect blend of fact and fiction. The author lets the reader get to know her characters on quite a personal level so I felt very involved in the story and therefore more concerned about how it was all going to end. My only small gripe is that I wish the American title of the book, Jackie and Maria was also used over here as I feel it fits the book slightly better.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Avon for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you’re a fan of well written, absorbing historical fiction then you need to read this book, and then go back and read the author’s back catalogue as it’s all amazing!

‘The President’s Wife; a Glamorous Opera Star; the rivalry that shook the world…‘

The Second Marriage is the latest novel from #1 bestselling author of The Secret Wife, Gill Paul (It is released in the US as Jackie and Maria : A Novel of Jackie Kennedy & Maria Callas) Published on September 17th with Avon Books, it is described as ‘a story of love, passion, and tragedy as the lives of Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas are intertwined—and they become the ultimate rivals, in love with the same man.’

A fascinating insight into the lives of these people whose legacy continues to intrigue.

I am a huge fan of Maria Callas. Described as probably the most influential opera singer of the 20th century, her voice touched the hearts of many and continues to do so today. I get great pleasure out of playing her music with the volume up in my kitchen when on my own. Her music strikes a chord deep inside that no one else can match. But behind that voice was a very fragile person, a person who suffered deeply and carried an increasing amount of insecurities on her shoulders. Aside from music, Maria had one huge passion in life, her love for a man who would never fully be hers, Greek tycoon, Aristotle Onassis.

Jackie Kennedy, who many now refer to as Jackie O, was quite the enigma. I knew very little of her life or of her relationship with Aristotle Onassis. Following on from the tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Jackie had her own issues to deal with. A lonely path lay ahead unless she proactively took charge of her destiny which she did by marrying again. Against all the advice, she married Aristotle Onassis and in doing so unwittingly broke the heart of Maria Callas.

Gill Paul is very clear that in writing this book, she took many liberties and created fictional versions of Maria Callas, Jackie Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis. The Second Marriage is a book of fiction with imagined dialogues and invented conversations but there is a very strong hint of truth, with factual events and real-life characters depicted throughout.

The book is divided into five sections, five acts recounting the real-life opera that played out for the media and the world at the time.

Maria Callas was born into a family that had very little love for her. Her mother would pass comments on her weight and her general disposition, comparing her to her sister, who was considered a beauty. These hurtful remarks had a long-term affect on Maria Callas, with her weight an ongoing battle in her life. She married Giovanni Battista Meneghini, a wealthy Italian merchant, who was nearly 30 years her senior. Their love and respect was mutual in the early years and as Maria’s career took off, he eventually became her manager. For many years they were happy until Maria met the enigmatic Aristotle Onassis. He alighted a passion within her that was no longer there with her husband but their relationship was a tempestuous one, with heated arguments and stormy fights. Theirs was a doomed relationship from the beginning but Maria remained true to her unequivocal love for him to the end.

Gill Paul recreates their lives and as a reader you are completely drawn into the world that they inhabited. Their Mediterranean temperaments were well matched in many ways, but Onassis was a man who liked to have conquests in both his business and his private life and perhaps Maria was just too available for this man who liked the challenge of the chase. It was Jackie Kennedy, so very different to Maria Callas, who Onassis set his eyes on next.

Although a work of fiction, Gill Paul very much brings to life the world that Jackie Kennedy inhabited. Reading about her relationship with the Kennedy family was really fascinating. Jacqueline Bouvier was born into money. Her mother had clear ambitions for her daughter and prepared her well for all social situations. The ability to portray an image of capability at all times was something her mother instilled in the young girl which in latter years gave off an impression of aloofness and coldness, something which concerned JFK’s campaign committee when he was running for the presidency. Jackie was a product of her upbringing. She was aware of her husband’s possible affairs but she remained at his side, supporting him through the campaign years and it was by his side that her life irrevocably changed on November 22nd 1963 when his life was shockingly cut short. The fear and the pain of that fateful day is wonderfully captured by Gill Paul. Jackie, although traumatised, publicly survived the days that followed but inside she was a mess. Her saviour came in the unlikely form of a man who was never in favour with the US government, Aristotle Onassis.

As Jackie and Onassis’s relationship developed, Maria Callas was left in shock. Following their marriage in 1968, which caused much confusion and shock in society at the time, Maria Callas was abandoned. Jackie Kennedy needed security and safety for her children and Onassis could provide her with this. Was there any love in this marriage? Does anyone really know? Gill Paul has taken the view that this was a marriage of convenience, with both living quite separate lives and Onassis regularly complaining about Jackie’s apparent out-of-control spending. Aristotle, in Gill Paul’s account, chose to return to the arms of Maria over these years. She could never resist him.

The Second Marriage is the story of three very famous people whose lives played out as an opera for the world to see. Gill Paul also introduces the reader to other characters, in particular Lee Radziwill, Jackie’s younger sister, who is painted in a less than favourable light. Lee was counted as one of Truman Capote’s inner circle, one of his Swans and married a number of times but she was also known for being Jackie’s sister, something that clearly rankled with her. Their relationship is mixed over the years. Lee was very supportive following the death of JFK but Gill Paul does highlight the possible affair she had with Aristotle Onassis at one point. The ofttimes quoted line“Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we start to deceive” by Walter Scott is really fitting for the complex lives of Maria Callas, Aristotle Onassis and Jackie Kennedy. Will we ever know the truth? Gill Paul tries to make sense of those years with this compelling fictional account that is sure to encourage a new interest into the life and times of this fascinating era.

The Second Marriage is a work of imagination and Gill Paul does not claim it to be any different stating in the Historical Afterword that –

“My primary purpose in telling this story was to illuminate the characters and seek what seem to me to be emotional truths – but these are my impressions, and biographers, friends and family would not necessarily agree. My Maria story is written from her point of view, so it is entirely sympathetic. She was a passionate, fiery woman, not a doormat.
It was purported that “Jackie and Jack were like iceberg, meaning no one saw the nine-tenths below the surface. I took this as a key to her character and went further, proposing that she repressed her feelings to such an extent that she wasn’t even in touch with them herself. Few really knew her, not even her sister Lee….they didn’t seem to have discussed their innermost thoughts and feelings often – if ever”
– Gill Paul

The Second Marriage is a captivating and nostalgic tale that provided a unique insight into the lives of these most alluring characters. Filled with passion, pain, rivalry and glamour, The Second Marriage provides a glorious view into the world of Jackie Kennedy, Maria Callas and the mysterious Aristotle Onassis.