This is a book for music lovers (especially classical musicians and opera fans) as well as anyone who loves stories of strong women falling in love and figuring out how to balance their romances and their vocations.

This author clearly knows some things about what it’s like to be a singer in the western opera tradition. Her descriptions of Maria’s rehearsals and preparations for performances were vivid, down to the details of her vocal warmups. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the many opulent settings in which Maria found herself, as well as her gowns and jewelry.

The first half of the book dragged a little, but the story picked up quite a bit in the second half after her romance with Aristotle Onassis began. The operatic contours of that relationship came through strongly as well.

I definitely recommend listening to the accompanying playlist/album alongside this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

A historical fiction book about someone I had never heard of and while this book didn't completely work for me, I am glad I read it and glad to know more about Maria Callas.

For me, this book didn't get going until at least 50% in and from there I was hooked, but it felt like it took a bit to get there. Some of the beginning was worth reading to establish how much of a diva Maria was, but for me it felt as though there was more than enough to get that memo!

When Maria meets Aristotle Onassis, that is when the book begins and you see her drop the diva attitude with him and it was so interesting to watch her give up all of what she had created for a man. This part of the book made me want to read more about both her relationship with Onassis, but Jackie's as well. I also had to look her up and watch some of the videos of her performing and seeing her in all of her glory in her space.

I am a fan of this author and have enjoyed her other books and will still read her future books, but sure hope for the plot to get going a little faster in the next one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ For Diva by Daisy Goodwin. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


This historical fiction novel is based upon the long affair between Maria Callas, likely the greatest female opera singer of all time, and Aristotle Onassis. The story is beautifully told, with very well-developed characters.

I love when historical fiction inspires me to learn about the events and people upon which the novel is based. This book did just that!

This book will be released on January 23, 2024.

Thank you to the author, St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my opinions

I am not always a fan of character driven novels, but I do enjoy a good historical fiction read. Diva did not disappoint on both fronts.

This story is a fictional imaging of a great affair between the world's greatest opera singer, Maria Callas, and the world's richest man, Aristotle Onassis. Until Onassis left Callas to marry Jackie Kennedy.

The story presents Callas as a Diva who is wildly disliked by many. But, I found the way her character was written caused me to have a great deal of empathy for her. Constantly being used for her talent, first by her mother and then by her husband, and of course the managers of the productions she was staring in. Her husband was terribly duplicitous, locking her into performances that she asked for health reasons to have a break from, spending her money without her knowledge.

Maria knew that her great gift was limited. That there would come a time when she could no longer sing in the same way. She was trying to protect her voice for as long as possible by asking for what she felt was best for her. But, to others, that just made her difficult and unlikeable.

Maria met Aristotle Onassis at a party, and they were taken with each other. Although both married, they started their affair while Maria and her then husband were cruising the Mediterranean on the Onassis' yacht.

Both marriages ended, and Maria and Aristotle could be together all the time. Although she longed for them to be married, Aristotle always refused, saying they were better the way they were. Even though Aristotle could be unkind and he betrayed Maria with others, she was really and truly under his spell. Aristotle was the one person who wasn't interested in Maria's voice. He was full of passion and made Maria feel beautiful.

At some point, Maria realizes that, like her voice, her time with Aristotle was limited. But, she still stayed until her passed her up for another.

We didn't get a huge glimpse into life after Aristotle for Maria, except a good feeling that she was going to reinvent herself and not simply fade into obscurity. Although, I would have liked to know that she eventually found the unconditional love she craved.

This story was so captivating that it moved along quite quickly. It was catching a glimpse into the glitz and glamour of the rich and famius during the 1950's with people like Princess Grace of Monaco, Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the Churchills and various other heads of state making an appearance. It was a life of extravagant parties, drinking champagne and fabulous wardrobes, but also so many lies, fake friendships, and betrayals.

If you read and enjoyed the Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin, you will absolutely love Diva. It is very reminiscent.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of Diva. My opinions are my own.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I struggled to get into it and to become invested enough in the characters.

When Greek-American opera singer Maria Callas died at the age of 55 she had reached the pinnacle of her career as an opera singer, a true Diva in every sense of the word. Callas was a phenomenon in her own right reaching devoted audiences from LaScala to the stage at the Metropolitan Opera . As a work of historical biography the author followed Callas’s life story fairly closely from her birth in Manhattan to her return to Greece where she spent her teen years during World War II . Her difficult relationship with her mother colored much of her development as a singer and likely affected her choice of a much older husband who served as her manager.
The strongest writing in this book is reserved for the descriptions of life on the stage as Callas carries out favorite roles such as Norma or Floria Tosca. Details of behind the scenes activities in some of the most famous opera houses in Europe and America serve as fascinating backdrop as Callas becomes increasingly more famous and sought after.
Introduced to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis at the height of her career Callas embarked on a passionate relationship that lasted off and on until his marriage to Jackie Kennedy, widow of JFK. With a glimpse of the lives of the very rich and famous, the author takes a fair amount of license with details of Onassis initial pursuit of Callas that includes throwing a Cartier necklace he had gifted her into the Mediterranean and making love in a lifeboat on his yacht.
Goodwin is an accomplished author and although the writing was a bit uneven in some places ultimately interest in the fascinating subject compelled me to finish. Callas was a gifted musician with whom more people should be familiar and this story may encourage further exploration of her recordings.

“‘Every time I hear you sing, I learn something new.’ Maria nodded. ‘That’s because you are an artist. We can all learn from each other. But Mario is only a performer. He thinks he is in command of the music; but we know, don’t we, that we serve our voices, not the other way round.’”

The premise of this book sounded so good but I DNF’d it at 12%. I don’t know if it was all of the name dropping instead of plot or what but I just could not get myself invested in the story. I put it down and tried to pick it back up multiple times but this book just isn’t for me.

The audiobook is done really well though, even if the story itself didn’t grab me. There are a lot of foreign characters and, thus, accents and the narrator did them beautifully! If I was going to finish this book I definitely would have done so with the audiobook. There are even some small musical scores with Opera singing. A very nice and authentic touch!

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

DIVA by Daisy Goodwin is a fascinating story of the life of the most celebrated opera singer of all time, Maria Callas, and her love affair with one of the richest men in the world, Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis. Maria was raised in Nazi-occupied Greece where her own mother exploited her exceptional beauty and singing talent for her own ends. She later marries an older man who is more interested in the money that can be made from her singing career than having a loving marriage. Callas meets Aristotle Onassis in Italy in 1957. Her pursues her relentlessly, giving her lavish gifts and introducing her to the luxurious lifestyle of the very rich and famous. But after nine years together, Onassis breaks her heart and drops her to marry former first lady of the United States, Jackie Kennedy. The story covers much of Maria Callas’ backstory and her relationship with Onassis. I enjoyed most the parts of the story which showed her extraordinary talent as well as her strength and determination in the face of almost constant scrutiny from the public. This is a more personal story of the woman behind the diva, showing her to be a more complicated woman than most would expect based on her fame. I highly recommend this well-researched and well-written story. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

To be completely honest, the only thing I ever knew of Maria Callus was that she had been a celebrated soprano. Daisy Godwin's DIVA was an education, and a delightful one at that.

One hundred years ago the world’s greatest opera soprano singer was born to an absent father, and a mother who recognized how she could push her daughter into a singing career. Studying under Elvira de Hidalgo, Maria trains her voice to the highest echelon of success.

When Maria meets Aristotle Onassis, she is married to another man. She finds that Aristotle is surely the love of her life. It’s 1957 and Maria begins a nine year love affair with him, divorcing her husband, and only leaving him when he up in marries Jacqueline Kennedy. Through the hardship of her loss, Maria realizes the strength of her spirit.

I enjoyed learning of this DIVA’s life and getting a glimpse into the glamour and luxury of days gone by for the uber rich. The author’s ability to paint a picture made me feel as if I were in the rooms. There was a note at the beginning of the book stating that some liberties had been taken by the author, however I feel that even with such liberties I’ve gained a true sense of who Maria Callus truly was.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily..

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley

Diva by Daisy Goodwin is a historical novel focusing on Greek-American Maria Callas, one of the most famous opera singers of the twentieth century, and her affair with Aristotle Onassis, the two most famous Greeks of their time. Most of the novel focuses on Maria’s relationship with Onassis, but also features her relationship with her mother and her husband as well as her singing career.

I’d never heard of Maria Callas before hearing about this book and was immediately pulled due to my own love of opera and the visceral prose that is emotive and makes occasional references to operatic stories. Bits of Maria’s insecurities regarding her weight, her relationship with her mother, and her voice are put on display in a respectful manner without glossing over how they impacted her personal life.

The novel does jump around in the timeline, mostly through flashbacks, but it feels natural to go back to certain moments in Maria’s life instead of going in sequential order from beginning to end. One thing I was pleasantly surprised by was the attention drawn to WWII and the Greek Civil War and the ways in which that impacted Greek people at the time and after the wars were over.

Content warning for depictions of parental neglect and a miscarriage

I would recommend this to readers looking for a fictional biography set in the fifties, readers looking for more information on Maria Callas, and fans of opera

Diva by Daisy Goodwin is a Historical Fiction based on real-life infamous opera singer Maria Callas. Though the reader learns details about her upbringing and life in Greece, the story is largely about the celebrity world and her affair with Aristotle Onassis.

Details such as Maria's upbringing, World War II snippets, her marriage and the care opera singers must take to protect their voices are intriguing. What didn't grab me are the gratuitous sexual descriptions and distasteful characters. As is the case in real life, poor choice after poor choice is made. My interest waned a bit now and then. However, my reading experience prompted me to research Maria's extraordinary life which is a good thing.

My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel.

Im having a fabulous time with Diva Maria Callas! I'm enjoying her spellbinding arias, curtain calls, and fabulous parties in Italian villas and aboard luxury yachts, rubbing elbows with the likes of Ari Onassis and Princess Grace. Maria Callas was such a hardworking singer, truly devoted to her craft, and she also led a fascinating life offstage.

Being a Historical Fiction novel which is based on real people, I wonder how much of it is truth versus embellished.

It was intriguing to get to know both Callas, the world-renowned performer; and Maria, the woman who had insecurities about her weight, worried about whether her voice would betray her at an inopportune moment, was stuck in a loveless marriage, and infatuated with a rich and powerful man who was married to another woman. Maria's social life was as entangled and complicated as an opera plot.

Main themes of this book include a difficult mother/daughter relationship, adultery, work/life balance, celebrity gossip, and the impact of critical reviews.

I love how the author, Daisy Goodwin, took singing lessons to prepare for writing this book.

I highly recommend Diva to anyone interested in opera, the arts in general, celebrity gossip, and a tragic love story.

Fictional account of the life and career of the brilliant opera singer Maria Callas. From Nazi occupied Greece to her time living and sailing with Onassis, Callas struggled to cement her place in artistic history. Unfortunately she often comes off as either imperious and high handed or desperately in love. As she is often remembered as being tempestuous it was unfortunate to see her private life played out in the public. In later years she seemed to take control of her career and do some of her most remembered work
All in all in this story of the rich and famous- nobody comes off looking admirable. Thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press.

Daisy Goodwin has written a bodice-ripping account of the tumultuous life of Maria Callas, the ultimate diva. As with all historical novels, the reader is left to discern what is truth and what is artistic license. I found myself asking these questions throughout the reading of this book.
Although her voice range surpassed all other opera singers of her time, Callas suffered from a severe inferiority complex, brought on initially by her overbearing mother. Her lack of confidence and fears of losing plagued her throughout her life. She came into her own when she met Onassis, only to have additional fears as he denied her the one role that she cherished.
Callas’s life was a whirlwind of successes and disappointments. I felt that Goodwin portrayed her as a sympathetic character rather than the Diva that she truly was. A large part of the book was “who wore what when” and “who was at this event”, which after a while became more like a gossip column, a la Elsa Maxwell.
My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
3 stars

Diva is a fascinating story about Maria Callas’’ personal and professional life. It centers around her intimate relationship with Aristotle Onassis who showers her with riches and treats her like a mistress. Her fame and his excessive wealth is an interesting mix. Daisy Goodwin has created a well written and compelling book.

Diva did not disappoint. This is an intriguing historical fiction exploration of a larger than life diva, Maria Callas. Pop culture enthusiasts will enjoy the chic fashion and fabulous name drops. We are hoping this is a popular book club pick this spring.

Plenty of drama in this novel about Maria Callas. The author admits taking liberties for the story so while I don’t know which parts are true it was still enjoyable and educational.

I received a complimentary digital advanced reader's copy of this excellent work from Netgalley, author Daisy Goodwin, and publisher St. Martin's Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read 'Diva' of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend Diva to friends and family. This is an interesting look into the life and life choices made by diva Maria Callas. She was a woman honored by the music loves of the world but abused by the mores of that time and place. She deserved much more adoration in her personal life. I received a complimentary digital advanced reader's copy of this excellent work from Netgalley, author Daisy Goodwin, and publisher St. Martin's Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read 'Diva' of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend Diva to friends and family. This is an interesting look into the life and life choices made by diva Maria Callas. She was a woman honored by the music lovers of the world but abused by the mores of that time and place. She deserved much more adoration in her personal life.

4.5 stars
Add my voice to those singing the praises of Diva by Daisy Goodwin. I loved the story of the relationship between Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis, and I was fascinated by the world of opera and opulence that surrounded the couple.

The book starts with a bang, with Maria learning of the wedding between her lover, Onassis, and the American, Jackie Kennedy. The story then backs up to years before and follows the passionate love story of the 'two most famous Greeks'. Neither Maria nor Aristotle are particularly likeable characters, but the relationship was relatable, and I felt empathy for Maria and the compromises she felt she had to make.

Historical fiction fans, and those who love Hollywood/celebrity stories, will enjoy this book. It is dripping with luxury and drama and has all the makings of a hit.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of Diva by Daisy Goodwin. The opinions in this review are my own.

Brava, Maria Callas! Wow, I loved this book from start to finish. Maria is a Greek girl who was given a talent: her voice. She knew that was her destiny and eventually became the best singer in the world, performing in the best venues and operas of the world. Even though she had fame, fortune and a talent that nobody could compare to, she didn't know love. She married a guy older than her to be her manager and administrator, but turned out he wasn't good at her job nor a good husband.

Maria is introduced to a billionaire Greek, and it seemed like destiny that they have to be together. She falls in love over heels, almost abandons her career and gives up almost everything. I don't want to give much away but what happens next made my blood boil. The drama is that good.

This is my first five star read of 2024 and I'm surprised I don't see a lot of people talking about it. Very worth the read!