Historical fiction fans will love this one. It’s the story of opera star, Maria Callas, with lots of dirt on Aristotle Onassis. Drama to the max but also luscious, beautiful settings.

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press | and Daisy Goodwin for free e-ARC of The Diva in return of my honest review.

"Diva" by Daisy Goodwin offers a captivating glimpse into the life of one of opera's most iconic figures, Maria Callas, known as "la divina." The novel paints a vivid portrait of Callas's rise to fame amidst the glittering yet cutthroat world of opera, revealing the complexities of her character and the challenges she faced both on and off stage.

Goodwin skillfully weaves together the threads of Callas's tumultuous early life, marked by a demanding mother and the harsh realities of growing up in Nazi-occupied Greece. This background sets the stage for Callas's relentless pursuit of success and her desire to be seen as more than just a voice. The author effectively captures the duality of Callas's existence: the dazzling public persona and the vulnerable woman yearning for love and validation.

The relationship between Maria and Aristotle Onassis is portrayed with depth and nuance. Goodwin explores the intoxicating highs of their romance, filled with luxury and glamour, alongside the inevitable heartbreak when Onassis chooses to marry Jacqueline Kennedy. This pivotal moment in Callas's life is depicted with emotional resonance, highlighting her struggle to find her true self after the loss of the man she loved.

The writing is lush and evocative, bringing to life the opulence of the opera world and the glamorous circles in which Callas moved. The supporting characters, including famous celebrities of the time, add richness to the narrative, providing a backdrop that enhances the story without overshadowing the protagonist.

While "Diva" offers a compelling narrative, it occasionally feels like it skims the surface of deeper themes related to identity, sacrifice, and the cost of fame. However, the emotional journey of Maria Callas is engaging enough to keep readers invested in her story.

Overall, "Diva" is a good read that effectively captures the essence of Maria Callas as both a legendary artist and a complex woman. Fans of historical fiction and biographies will appreciate the insight into her life and the dramatic events that shaped her legacy. It’s a well-crafted novel that resonates with themes of love, ambition, and resilience, making it a worthwhile addition to any reading list.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
I really wanted to like this one because I love historical fiction, especially when it involves learning about real people. Unfortunately, I read 45% and decided I just couldn’t get into it, and I wouldn’t be finishing it. It kind of felt like I was dropped into Maria Calla’s story without much context. I knew that she crossed paths with Jackie Kennedy because they both were in love with the same man – Aristotle Onassis, who Jackie Kennedy ended up marrying. But at 45% in, this had barely been introduced. I felt like not a lot happened in the almost half of the book that I read. I know a lot of people that enjoyed it, but for me it was dragging a lot and I kept picking up other books to read while I was reading this.
Because I have to give a star rating, I'm giving this a one star here, because I didn't finish it. I will not post this review anywhere else.

I was intrigued by the premise of Diva, and at the beginning I was really into it. But unfortunately main character Maria became rather insufferable to me and I had a hard time staying interested in her story. I'm also not a fan of opera so I was bored in the many parts of the story that explain and or discuss it. So people who have an interest in opera will probably enjoy this one more than I did.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

** Thank you to Netgalley for this free e-ARC**

This was my first time reading a novel from Daisy Goodwin and I wish I started sooner. This novel was very well written and loved the characters also the plot as well. I really do enjoy reading historical fictions with Hollywood/ fame setting, so I really did enjoyed reading this book and hopefully I'll read the rest of Daisy Goodwin's novels in the future.

Following the life of Maria Callas, Diva dives into this celebrated opera singers life. I admit I did not know much about Maria, or what this book was about, going into it. Historically it was interesting to see a different aspect of the effects of WWII. However, I struggled getting into this one. I found the back and forth between characters to get somewhat boring and there were scenes that I did not think fit with this story at all. I had a hard time becoming invested in this one, sadly.

I absolutely love the history in this book. You hear about Aristotle Onassis and Jackie Kennedy, but you never hear about the first romance with Maria Callas. This deserves a movie. Maria Callas is a fascinating historical figure with little attention, but Daisy Goodwin makes her unforgettable. This book does an excellent job depicting the hidden insecurities of famous women of this time period. Their struggles and those who fail to see it or want to see it.

Thank you to netgalley.com for this ARC.

I was very interested in reading this book about Maria Callas. I had heard of her and her fame, but really didn't know much about her life. It was definitely interesting to hear about her difficult upbringing and relationships with men. I found the portrayal of her a bit flat and one sided....I'm not sure if she was as vain and self-centered in real life as she was portrayed in the book. I found it a little off putting at times.

But overall, an interesting fictional take an a real life person.

Man, this book was intense. If you read "And We Called It Camelot" by Stephanie Marie Thornton, this is the "other woman's" point of view. If you like affairs and historical fiction, give this one a try! 3.5 stars rounded down.

Diva by Daisy Goodwin offers a fascinating look into the life of the iconic opera singer, Maria Callas. The novel does a thorough job of capturing the glamour and drama of her life, from her rise to fame to her relationshinp with Aristotle Onassis. Goodwin’s writing is engaging, and her portrayal of Callas is both vivid and empathetic. This character didn't completely entrance me compared to Goodwin's other novels, but it still made for a good story.
Overall, Diva is an enjoyable read for those interested in the personal life of Maria Callas, but it might not satisfy readers looking for a more comprehensive biography. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I tried to get into this book but struggled. I ended up only getting a few chapters in before DNF. I cant give feedback.

I did not finish this book so therefore cannot provide feedback. I will not post any information on social media.

Maria Callas, a towering figure in the opera world, is depicted not just through her legendary voice but also through her personal and historical challenges. The novel captures the essence of her rise from obscurity during Nazi-occupied Greece to becoming the opera world's most revered diva. This historical backdrop is crucial, painting a vivid picture of her early struggles and relentless pursuit of excellence in a field as demanding as it is glamorous.

Her relationship with Aristotle Onassis adds a layer of complexity, illustrating the intersection of personal desires with historical prestige. Onassis’s influence and their tumultuous relationship are portrayed against the backdrop of a glittering mid-20th-century social scene. The novel emphasizes how Callas's private life and the societal expectations of the time shaped her public persona.

Ultimately, the story reveals how Callas's heartbreak and resilience during a transformative era in her life contributed to her lasting legacy. Her journey through personal and historical upheavals is a testament to her unyielding spirit and artistic brilliance.

Maria Callas – la divina – is, arguably, one of the most talented opera singer of all time. While I don’t know much about opera, or had ever heard of Maria before, I found myself completely immersed in her story and jumping down a rabbit hole of Google searches and Wikipedia links. These types of books are some of my favorite, learning more about the history of a fascinating person.

Raised in Nazi-occupied Greece by her mother who exploited her voice, Maria struggled to find true, genuine love in her life. When she met Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, she thought he was the one. She was lavished with jewels and shown a life of luxury, and then, in an instant, it was over. Onassis was set to marry Jacqueline Kennedy, leaving Maria in shambles.

I really enjoyed the author’s style of writing and found myself feeling Maria’s emotions and struggles. She was a complex woman with a complicated life, and it was very well-portrayed in this book. I look forward to seeing who/what Goodwin decides to tackle next.

Thank you to Daisy Goodwin, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance electronic copy for an honest review.

n the historical fiction novel, “Diva”, Daisy Goodwin creates a tragic heroine in the world renowned opera singer Maria Callas. Although a grand performer, she did not find true happiness off stage because of an estranged relationship with family and a loveless marriage. Callas had great pressures placed on her to perform, which affected her health and ultimately encouraged her to find fulfillment with one of the wealthiest men, Aristotle Onassis. Yes, the famous billionaire who married Jacqueline Kennedy. Maria Callas is drawn to him as he spoils her with jewels and indulges her wishes, but she sacrifices her performances. Her greatest fear is to lose her voice, her golden coins, as Goodwin describes. Throughout the novel, several celebrities the 1950s and 1969s Hollywood make cameos including Princess Grace Kelly (a real flirt) and Marilyn Monroe. In many ways Maria Callas is reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe as both women try to figure out how to navigate fame, beauty, and talent.

Admittedly, I know nothing about opera but I was still fascinated with Maria Callas and the life-choices she needed to make. I also think that Godwin’s portrayals of Princess Grace, Jackie Kennedy, and Jackie Kennedy’s sister were brave as they were not presented as one-dimensional lovely people. This is a good read for anyone that loves the glamour of 1950s and 1960s Hollywood or lives of the elite.

I would like to thank Daisy Goodwin, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Maria Callas was a world-famous opera singer. In this fictionalized account of her life, we see that despite her fame and success, she has a habit of choosing the wrong man. Her most famous companion was Aristotle Onassis, who she dated immediately prior to his marriage to Jackie Kennedy.
Diva was definitely a page-turner for me.

This is historical fiction about a famous opera singer, how she got there and how her life made her a better performer. Since I doubt there were records of her sexual encounters, these felt very fictional and perhaps…inaccurate. It was interesting to see the cast of important historical figures she was around. I loved the authors note that she wants to take the teen diva back to its original meaning. Me too!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, #partner for the advanced copy of Diva in exchange for my honest review. I purchased the audiobook for my personal collection.

I was first drawn to this book because of the author and because Jacqueline Kennedy was mentioned…but little did I know just how much I would come to love this deep dive into the world of opera singer Maria Callas’s life. I honestly had never heard of her before reading this book and am so glad I picked this one up…and of course, I knew I would be in good hands with Daisy Goodwin writing it!

This book paints such a vivid picture of Callas’s life, from how her mother used her and often exploited her for her own gains, to her love affair with Aristotle Onassis that ends quite abruptly when he meets and then decides to marry Jacqueline Kennedy. I felt that for not knowing anything about Callas, I walked away with such a good picture about her from this book – the research that Goodwin did to write this one is quite evident.

While I did have the print book on hand, I did listen to this one and I have to say, if you have the chance to do so, I highly recommend it. Not only does the narrator, Lorelei King, do a phenomenal job bringing this book to life, but there are also clips of Maria Callas singing throughout the audiobook and that was just so amazing to hear.

What an incredible story of the great diva Maria Callas! Initially, I thought this was more of a telling of the passionate and volatile love affair between Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis. However, I was pleased to find that Goodwin paid the diva tribute by depicting her as not only the greatest of all time soprano but, more importantly, as a woman. Callas was a complex person who was often exploited by those who should have been her support system. While she had many shortcomings and a quick temper, she was not weak and mild. daisy Goodwin has represented Callas as the strong, Greek-American diva whose larger than life stage presence and earnest life live on through stories like this one.

All this is to say, yet another powerful story written by the queen of historical fiction! Well done, Daisy Goodwin!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

What can I say? A wonderful historical fiction about one of the most scandalous affairs in the operatic world. Two divas fight over a Greek shipping magnate. It’s a sortie story and made headlines in the gossip rags. Maria Callas, grand diva of the opera stage vs Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, former First Lady and widow of the ever loved assassinated president. Both beauties, both demanding, both in competition m. How fun!! Thank you netgalley for the ARC!