This story took too long to get where it was going. It was good to a certain point and then it just kind of lingered for me. I lost interest when 2/3 way through I still couldn't like the mom.

This was an interesting book with a great premise. Imagine you are a struggling writer and your manuscript finally gets picked up by a major publishing house. You show up for your meeting with your editor, and it's Jackie Kennedy. Surprise!

I liked the way the book described the inner thoughts of the writer as he produced his book, but I thought that the "mother" issues with his mother and then substituting Jackie was a little awkward in places. However, I enjoyed the book overall and recommend it.

Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fun book!! It gave me The Dinner List vibes, in how it included a fun icon (Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O). But, like The Dinner List, the celebrity presence in the book was not the main point or purpose of the book. If you want to read a book that just focuses on Jackie...you will be disappointed. This is about James and his relationship with his family and his writing. Jackie's presence was wonderful but not the driving force of the book. I loved James. I felt connected to him and was invested in his writing journey. This was an introspective story and I loved the way it used the novel writing process to allow James to examine things in his past he never had looked at before. Wonderful, feel good story that felt light-hearted and fun while still having a deeper, heartfelt message.

Many thanks to NetGalley, GP Putnam's Sons, and Steven Rowley for the opportunity to read and review his latest novel. I loved Lily and the Octopus and this book did not disappoint. 4.5 stars for a great read.

James is a struggling author in NYC. His autographical novel about his dysfunctional family, especially his relationship with his mother, finally gets picked up by a major publishing house. When he meets with the editor, it is none other than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. James and Mrs. Onassis develop a friendship as she pushes him to change the ending of his novel and resolve issues with his mother. A turn of events, however, may help understand why he never felt included but could destroy his relationships as opposed to heal them.

I really enjoyed this book. Besides the star factor of a tiny glimpse into what Mrs. Onassis' world could have been like, James' struggle in his family relationships felt real. His journey towards reconciliation and healing, encouraged by the writing of his book, was powerful.

This book is a delight once it gets going. Imagine that you're an author who has just had your debut baby accepted to be published by a major publishing house. Then you meet your editor and it's none other that Jackie Kennedy. Wow! Once she entered the picture, the novel became a totally unputdownable (is that a word?) read. Steven Rowley captured the essence of Jackie to a tee. I always imagined her having a serious facade with a sly sense of humor hidden beneath. Rowley apparently agrees because that's how she comes across.
The young author has written a book about a dysfunctional family. He has never felt accepted or loved in his family and has poured those feelings out in the book. Jackie helps him to come to terms with his feelings and to shape the book accordingly.
There's a lot going on in this one but it's worth the read.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Imagine that you are a novelist and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis wants to acquire your manuscript. That is the premise of Steven Rowling’s second novel, The Editor. It is about unlikely friendship and healing old wounds. Read this when you are in the mood to be totally charmed by the fictional journey of an author publishing his very first novel under the tutelage of the iconic former first lady. It is a more benevolent Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne meets Less by Andrew Sean Greer. Best paired with daiquiris made with ice, a healthy pour of rum distilled from molasses, a conservative amount of simple syrup, fresh lime juice and a splash of soda.

A lovely sweet book about a son who never feels he is part of the family and his attempt to write a semi-autobiographical novel about his life. He writes the book and it is purchased by a large publishing house. Much to his amazement when he meets with his editor, he discovers it is Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. She guides him through his difficulty with the ending of the book and that leads him to seek acceptance from his estranged mother. I would highly recommend this book.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley - thank you!

I had heard a lot of buzz about the Editor - that it was sharp and funny. While overall I did like the book, the entire first half was slow for me. The premise of the first half of the book is that the main character is writing a fiction novel based heavily on his relationship with his mother. Because not a lot is revealed about the nature of their relationship, I kept wondering why this was so important to him. There's a bit of a reveal/plot twist halfway through that piqued my interest and kept me interested, and the second half of the book moved a lot faster.

Another draw of the book is the presence of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis as the main character's editor. While it was interesting to think about that version of Jackie, at the end of her life, it didn't add or take away a lot to the book. If you're reading just for Jackie, there are lots of other books to pick up instead.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it won't be making any favorites lists for me. I had a hard time connecting to the character and becoming invested in his plight.

There were several things going on in the story, a story of dysfunctional family relationships, and the historical fiction aspect of Jackie O as an editor. I think each of these stories could have been a book on it's own but instead they were craft-fully intertwined into this novel.
The story had its ups and downs but overall I enjoyed the read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced reading copy of The Editor by Steven Rowley

Imagine if you walk into your publisher’s office, unsure of what is going to happen, and they tell you they have an editor for your book! Now imagine that the editor is Jackie Kennedy Onassis! That is exactly what Steven Rowley does in this very charming book.

James Smale has written a thinly veiled story about his mother and their relationship. Ms. Onassis takes his hand and helps him to realize so much about life and love and family. Their working relationship develops into a friendship, as much as that can happen, and James begins to understand the mother-son relationship. I love how his relationship with his mother progresses through the story. We think we know everything there is to know about our parents in our lop-sided view but we really don’t.

Growing up Catholic, I have always been fascinated by the Kennedy family, and although this is a fictional account, it rang so true for me. From the descriptions of her attitude, to her home, to her dress, it was exactly as I picture Ms. Onassis, right down to the sweater thrown across her shoulders.

It is a funny, touching gem of a book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Putnam for a copy of this book.

Like many Americans, I am fascinated by the Kennedys, and the Camelot years in American history. When I saw that the infamous "Jackie O" was a main character in this novel, I knew I had to read it. The main character, James, is an unpublished author who submits his manuscript to a publishing company, only to find out the his editor is none other than Jackie Kennedy Onassis herself. From the beginning, I was intrigued by James and Jackie's friendship, and I loved it from start to finish. I thought it was interesting to see a different side of Jackie, even if it was a fictional one. Rowley has a way of writing poignantly and lyrically, and writing an utterly engrossing story. In many ways, I felt the same way when I read Lily and The Octopus. I appreciated Rowley's humor and wit, and I thought it was perfect for the main character. This isn't a thriller by any means, but I found the read to be completely addicting. I wanted to keep reading because I wanted to see what was going to happen between Jackie and James. The Editor is a character-driven novel that explores how a friendship develops between two strangers. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and anyone looking for a "good" book. 4/5. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this book for review.

Imagine having Jackie Kennedy assigned as the editor of your debut novel, especially for a young male author grappling with maternal issues of his own. This is the premise of Steven Rowley's The Editor. I enjoyed this novel and the way James uses the writing and editing of his novel to discover himself. I will say, I picked up this novel for the Kennedy aspect - which was NOT so much the focus of the book. I think the role of Kennedy could have been played by anyone written as a strong maternal character to serve the plot, so I was left wanting more on that aspect. I advise you to go into this for James Smale's journey and not Jackie Kennedy's impact and I think literary fiction fans will have nothing but high praise to offer.

Thank you to Putnam Books for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 2.5 stars

When I saw that Steven Rowley was releasing a new book, I jumped on the chance to read it. I absolutely adored his début Lily and the Octopus and I couldn't wait to read more of his writing. Unfortunately, The Editor just wasn't for me.The Editor had a premise that I was very interested in reading. I don't know much of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' life, but I was curious how she would fit into this story. Her friendship and professional relationship with author James Smale intrigued me. This was the part of the story that I liked. Mrs. Onassis came off intelligently and with a level of sophistication that I loved. James' interactions with Jackie were my favorite part of the book.What I didn't love was James. I couldn't connect with his character. He was shrouded in this negativity that was hard for me to like. He, and his mother, were annoying. I couldn't get myself to care about their passive aggressive relationship. This made it hard to want to continue reading. I really had to push myself to finish the book. That is why this book didn't rate higher for me. I would still recommend this book to people who have a Kennedy Onassis interest or like historical fiction set in the 1990s.

This book, The Editor by Steven Rowley, is a romp of energy, antics, and family. James is an insecure author who questions himself, is quite humorous as mishaps abound when he meets his editor, Jackie Kennedy Onassis. It would certainly throw me for a loop! The basis of his book is his family, most particularly his mother. The mother and son part of this book is sometimes antagonistic and sometimes loving. Along with the romantic part of his world this a a delightful story. Thank you #NetGalley #GPPutnamsSons #TheEditor #StevenRowley

I really enjoyed The Editor by Steven Rowley. I loved the plot, Jackie O being his editor and how no one believed him.

From many things I've read, it seems a very "real" portrayal of the First Lady and I wished while reading, that I could have met her in a similar situation.

Do yourself a favor and read The Editor. It is very good and so touching in certain places.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for granting my request for an ARC. My thoughts in this review are my own and freely given.

The story of a young writer whose first novel is bought by Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and the relationship that develops as she nurtures and guides him through the editing process. Somehow, the relationships and emotions never quite rang true for me, so I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd anticipated.

I honestly don't know what I expected going into this book, but it certainly wasn't what I got. This is outside of my normal genre but is a prime example of why I love going outside of my usual reads. I absolutely know just about nothing about the Kennedys or Jackie O - I was never that person that was obsessed with them but of course I know the "basics" because I don't live under a rock. And while Jackie is an integral part of this story line, she doesn't steal the show.

I absolutely love the way the author portrayed Jackie. Elegant, professional, humble, fierce and just human all around. We forget that famous people are actually REAL people sometimes. But the story here is James's to tell. A book about a writer trying to find his ending, in the novel and in his life. Autobiographical fiction is always a genre that I find interesting as you never know where the truth ends and the "fiction" begins.. and as explained in this book, it's never ending because you continue on although the story in the book may not.

I truly adored James's relationship with Daniel. Imperfectly perfect. The yin and the yang and full on support of each other regardless of the dips. With the push of Jackie and Daniel, James has to face some things in his life that he doesn't want to - particularly his strained relationship with his mother and as secrets become revealed, it becomes even harder.

The journey James takes with his family, his partner and his career was emotional at times. The ending was tied up nicely and satisfying but for some reason I felt like it almost, ALMOST, had that after school special moment. I didn't quite feel that connection with the characters that I would've liked for a book of this stature - and you guys, this is GOOD! I would definitely recommend this for those who love contemporary historical fiction. Now excuse me while I got fine Lily and the Octopus.

The Editor by Steven Rowley is a wickedly delicious book. There is a gleeful reading each time you open it up and you cannot wait to see where our character and his editor (Jackie Kennedy Onassis) are in the editing of his personal family novel. The characters in this book jump off of the page. James is my spirit animal and he is just a wonderful representation of a gay man. It is also wonderfully funny and touching at moments, I found myself giggling on the train during my morning commute. This is by far the best book I have read in a while. I found this book incredibly realistic and well researched. Jackie was not only a 3D character but you rooted for her and you felt her spirit. I don’t think that any book this year will be as magnificent as this one and it has entered my list of top books of all time.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley and chose to write an honest review.

NYC. Book publishing. LGBT. Jackie O. What’s not to love?! I *adored* this book and Steven Rowley’s writing. I despised Mark and still wish that storyline wasn’t in the book but all’s well that ends well, I suppose. Rowley makes up for it with a painfully beautiful transformation between mother and son and a love story that overcomes and transcends many imperfections and trials. And...then there’s James’ relationship with Jackie O. Even 25 years after her death, she still captures our hearts and holds our attention just as she did in life. The book wouldn’t remotely have been the same had James’ editor been anyone other than Jackie. It’s just divine and everything I’d imagine having Jackie O as your editor would be.

I had no idea what to expect going into this. I had no idea Jackie O was an editor!

But, I ended up reading a beautiful story of a struggling writer, who finally finds an editor who wants to publish his book. And it turns out to be the very famous woman her self. The story feels like a sneak peek into a writer’s life (I imagine quite like reality!), and an even sneakier peek into Jackie's life, although it’s just fiction, it feels so real - and you want it to be. The narrator is witty and he’s quite humorous - I found myself laughing out lot frequently.

A gorgeous tale of mothers and sons, and an unexpected friendship the blossoms so delicately but believably. It made me want to learn and know more about this extraordinary but private woman, and it gave me a new found appreciation for writers. Pure enjoyment!