I really enjoyed this book. Not a lot of literature focuses on Kick Kennedy (when there is a lot about the rest of her family), and it was really interesting to learn more about her. Kick seems like she was a very vibrant person, and it is great to see her get the spotlight for a little bit within her famous family.

One of the best parts about this book is that Kick becomes such a relatable character. Yes, she is wealthy and doing things that most of us will never have the chance to do. But she seems so human. She has human struggles, worries, and even triumphs. I was rooting for her relationship with Billy the whole story, and was so glad when they finally got together.

I also loved how the author used actual quotes and telegrams that were found in Kick's diary and scrapbook. Though this was a fictional novel, that tethers it to reality.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I enjoyed the fictionalization of Kathleen Kennedy's life in The Kennedy Debutante. I thought the portrayal of Kick's struggle with family dynamics and also with her faith was interesting and well done by the author. I wish the book had continued until Kick boarded the plane, but perhaps the book was getting too long. I appreciated the author's note at the end as well.

I’m usually not a fan of fictional accounts of historical figures, but found this one charming and engrossing. The Kennedy Debutante focuses on Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy and her family during the London and World War II years. Although the story revolves around Kick, insight is also given into her parents and siblings.

Maher conveys a good sense of the times both culturally and politically as well as the changes that war would bring. The emphasis on the dilemma of a mixed religion marriage became a bit tedious, but, given the social positions of Kick and her husband to be as well as family pressure and the era, one can see its importance and, knowing what happened to both of them, the futility of it in the scheme of life.

Well researched, this is an excellent debut for Kerri Maher.

Since I was young, I have always been fascinated by the Kennedy family. I have read about Kick and knew her story, but this was a
lovely overture to her legacy. Nothing but praise for The Kennedy Debutante. Thank you NetGalley.

This was an amazing book. Camelot was before my time but I do know about Jack and Jackie. It makes sense then that the whole Kennedy clan was before my time; however, I had read about Rosemary Kennedy but didn't even know about Kit. I loved her spirit and fight and thought the author did a wonderful job of introducing her to us.

I reserve 5 stars for books I plan on reading again and this is one of them!!

The Kennedy Debutante has all the elements of a sweeping romantic novel: a fiery heroine, a dashing young noble, and an almost impossible choice set among the backdrop of WWII. What makes this book even more compelling is that it's based on a true story. This is a truly enjoyable book of historical fiction.

What I Liked:

Setting:

As an young, wealthy American, Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy is the toast of London in 1939. Through Kick we see glittering nightclubs, posh country parties, and behind the scenes politics.

Later, when WWII break out, the action takes place in both America and England. There were wonderful details of fashion, food, and strict etiquette throughout the story. Plus other members of Kick's famous family show up, such as Jack, Bobby, and Teddy. These little glimpses of Kennedy life are very telling of how those famous brother behaved later in life (lots of dad's secret/not so secret mistresses).

Characters:

Kick is a compelling character. She craves independence, but also the elusive approval of her mother. With her strict Catholic upbringing, she is conflicted about her choices when it comes to romance. I also liked that she was a fiercely loyal friend who went out of her way for others.

Kick's mother, Rose, is also complicated. While she is a strong woman raising nine children, you would think she would be all loving and nurturing, right? Not so! Rose was a staunch Catholic rule follower, and any female who deviated from that was mercilessly cut off. Of course, her husband and sons broke the rules all the time. But perhaps her tough love approach is a way of protecting her daughters reputations, as women who got out of line were outcasts in their world.

Billy is the dashing young noble who captures Kick's heart. He is shy when we first meet him. But as the war progresses, Billy begins to understand his duty to his family and his country. Can he marry a Catholic?

Conflict:

The main personal conflict for Kick is whether or not she should marry Billy who is a Protestant. This may not seem like a big deal, but for a Kennedy, the world's most famous Catholics, it is earth-shattering. Will she turn her back on her family for love? Can she compromise her beliefs? As a Catholic myself, I understand this problem only too well.

Faith:

Kick's faith is beautifully represented. Prayer, church attendance, and seeking the advice of priests are integral aspects of her life. Billy's family is also shown to be solid Protestants. I love books where people are living their faith, whatever it may be.

Romance:

The romance is sweeping in this book. Just as Kick and Billy become serious, WWII breaks out and she is forced to move back to America. Even though it seems impossible, both Kick and Billy yearn for each other over the years. Without giving spoilers, I will say that there is some major heartbreak in this book. I was crying by the end of this book.

What I Was Mixed About:

Pacing:

The story was very slow at the beginning, focusing on the many parties attended by Kick and the social connections she formed. Maybe, I didn't respond to this because I didn't know who these people were. But reading this left me with a feeling that Kick was a very superficial person as a teenager.

Kick does mature and start to see the bigger picture as the story progresses. Perhaps this was the goal of the first part of the story?

WWII:

Even though I knew that Kick and her society friends were wealthy, I was surprised that the characters didn't seem to feel any of the pains of food shortages and the Blitz. These were alluded to only briefly in the book, but I wish there would have been more on the civilian impact of the war.

Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy is not the first Kennedy that comes to mind but she will be after you finish this informative and touching gem.
Brought up to put family and religion first, Kick had the misfortune to fall in love with the one person who could drive a wedge between herself and her very important strict Catholic family - a Protestant from a titled British family. Billy's religion and sense of duty and family were just as strong so there was no easy compromise. Kerri Maher paints a very readable picture of the Kennedy clan as well as how the British aristocracy dealt with the early days of World War II. Kick gave the British a very American "kick in the pants" when it came to doing her part for the country she came to love. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

I enjoyed the historical fiction of this book tracing the influences of Kathleen Kennedy from her father’s experiences in England pre-WWII to her religious questions, pursuits of marriage and career and relationships with her famous parents and siblings. I liked the pre-WWII History of how England viewed the US political climate prior to participating in WWII. Overall I enjoyed it but the parts in Billy (her husband’s ) pov were very stilted and not well done. I was hoping it would have more complete portraits of historical figures. I did find it compelling and wanted to finish it. Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy.

I found this an intriguing book with information about a little known Kennedy daughter. It covers a 6 year span from 1938-1944 in the life of Kathleen Kennedy who was sister to Joe Kennedy Jr. It is a well written historical novel with actual quotes and historical people except for 2. I was thankful for the end notes by the author.

The Kennedy Debutante is a captivating read about one of the rebellious daughter of one of America's greatest political dynasties, Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy. An inside look at the life that the family wanted to be hidden from the public but a woman who wanted to live her life to the fullest. I absolutely loved this book and plan to recommend it to everyone I know.

Always enjoy books that deal with Historical fiction. Did not know that much about Kick Kennedy, truly fascinating. Will definitely recommend..

Kerri Maher flings the cobwebs off arid history texts as she unveils the truth of late ‘30s England in THE KENNEDY DEBUTANTE. Told through the lively eyes of Ambassador Joe Kennedy’s second daughter, Kick, this fictionalized bio gives a snapshot in time as vivacious as the deb herself. Highly recommended for anyone who loves history, romance and biography as revealed through the chiaroscuro of an artist. 5/5

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

#TheKennedyDebutante #NetGalley

The Kennedy family lore tends to highlight the boys; this book about the middle daughter offered a different view into the famous family. While it is a fictionalized account, the author notes give a brief history of life after the novel ends. On par with my experience this summer, this historical fiction left me knowing more than I did before. Very nice book.

I knew that there was a Kennedy sister who passed away in a plane crash because she was a friend of the Mitford sisters, not because I'm a Kennedy fan. I enjoyed this book because it was told from "Kick"'s point of view, and shows that she was well aware of the faults within her family. Heartbroken over her sister Rosemary's fate, and over her father's stance on WWII, she defied her family to forge a life of her own. Well written and enjoyable.

The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher, introduces Kathleen, fourth of nine children in the Kennedy clan. Presented to London society in the fall of 1938, Kathleen won over the chilly British with her sunny smile and enthusiasm. The Kennedy Debutante was a smashing success. She loved London, and loved the friends she made during her father's tenure as British ambassador from 1938-1940.

The legend of Joe Kennedy's male children is a well-known part of American history. The Kennedy men each pursued the dream of service, leadership, and excellence Joe Kennedy encouraged. Joe Jr. was supposed to be president, but was killed in WWII. Those dreams were transferred to John F. Kennedy, who was elected and then assassinated. Robert Kennedy was next in line, assassinated during his bid for the presidency. Teddy Kennedy's reputation never overcame the Chappaquiddick incident entirely, but he served his state with distinction for years.

The  lives of the Kennedy daughters, while just as fascinating, have been less explored. In this historical fiction, Kerri Maher introduces us to Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy, one of the five Kennedy daughters, and provides a view of the life of a Kennedy female. This lively story follows Kick from the time of her father's ambassadorship in England in 1940 through her marriage to Billy and his subsequent death in WWII.

Kathleen, or Kick as she was known, was not considered a true beauty. Nevertheless, she was gregarious and charming enough to be deemed the debutante of the year in 1939 London. The author provides a glimpse of life for the upper crust British society, while the Hitler looms in the background. Kathleen not only falls in love with bustling, vibrant London, she meets Billy Cavendish early on and is smitten. They attend parties, jazz club outings, county hunt weekends at posh family estates, all while becoming better acquainted. Mind you, dating then was not as dating is now. There were always groups of people, and married couples would accompany on these outings as chaperones. The girls all knew to watch out for the young bucks labeled N-SIT (not safe in taxis).

Kathleen was a devoted Catholic, and her growing love for Billy  presented an almost insurmountable problem with both their families due to religion. The question of marriage out of faith is a central problem throughout the story. Kathleen researches her options in regards to marrying an Anglican, illustrating her determination, love and stubbornness. Her parents are adamant that she should marry a nice, Irish Catholic American boy. Kick ultimately follows the path of her own choosing.

Billy, or Major William John Robert "Billy" Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, as he was formally known, falls just as hard for Kick as she does for him. Throughout this love story he remains an unflappable "good chap." At one point during their 5 year on and off again courtship, while separated by the war, he becomes engaged to another woman. He breaks it off quickly when he realizes his still strong feelings for Kick. They reunite in May of 1944 when Kick defiantly travels back to England from the US, A quiet civil marriage takes place and  the couple enjoys five wedded weeks together. Then, Billy returns to the front lines of the war, and Kick returns to the US to wait for him. Sadly, Billy dies in battle four months later.

The other Kennedy children are not significant characters to the story line, However, Kathleen did spend time with her older two brothers in England and the US. Joe Jr and John both travelled with Kick in the same social circles. Interestingly, both brothers provide relationship advice while involved in their own tangled situations. The most intriguing sibling is Rosemary, who exhibits signs of an emotional or mental disorder. She and Kathleen are close, but Rosemary's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic. Joe Kennedy arranges a medical treatment with tragic results, and Rosemary disappears from the family.

Kathleen's relationship with her parents becomes rocky as she asserts her own will regarding marriage. Joe considers Kick to be his favorite daughter, and appears accepting of her decision. The author portrays Rose Kennedy as a stereotypical wealthy mother, whose ambitions ride on the marriage choices of daughters, not on the life a daughter crafts for herself. Each parent deals with Kick's defiance differently, but family ties are not severed.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and especially appreciated the notes relating to the author's research. Historical fiction does not generally employ footnotes and research notes. However, Kerri Maher does detail some of her research as well as differentiating between actual living characters and those she added for narrative purposes. The Kennedy family saga is fascinating, and the story of Kick's life adds one more layer of intrigue and tragedy. This lesser known Kennedy has received the literary treatment she deserves for her own life story. The narrative ends with Kick returning to London for good. Be sure to read the Author's Note to learn about Kick's years after the war.

Many thank yous to NetGalley for the ARC download provided in exchange for this unbiased review. The Publication date for The Kennedy Debutante is October 2, 2018.

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.