Really interesting book that's loosely based on a true story! I learned a lot about the opera world and the historical time period.

I wanted to like this book, I really did... but it was a serious struggle to get through it. Maria Callas had such a difficult, tragic life, but the writing style was choppy and stilted. The author uses rumors about Maria that aren't often considered to be true (such as she and Onassis having a deceased son), and uses truly awful cliches about sex (comparing oral sex to caviar, come on).

The book also doesn't span as much as Maria's life as the bio would suggest. It ONLY spans about 10 years of her life - the ending of her marriage to Meneghini and her relationship with Onassis. This dynamic woman had her life reduced to her relationships. There are parts alluded to about her time in Nazi-occupied Greece or with her mother, but for the most part, it's just in brief musings about it or flashbacks. And once she is done with Onassis, the novel itself is just kind of... done. It's really disappointing.

Again, I wanted to love this book. I really wish I had.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. Somehow I had never heard of Maria Callas. I found myself entirely enraptured by her story and researching her life as I read this amazing story. Brave!

This book intrigued me from the moment I read the synopsis. I have never heard of Maria Callas, and I wanted to know more about her. What made her tick, what made her voice so powerful, where did she come from, what was her back story, and who did she love? Daisy Goodwin hits on all these topics and more. The beginning of the book was a bit repetitive at times and I found myself losing focus. Once Aristotle Onassis comes into the picture. The book picks up and there are some spicey moments between the two. I am amazed that so many powerful women wanted his eye and heart. I did not connect with the characters, which left me wanting more from the book. I did take a giant leap into the google search rabbit hole on Maria Callas. Her life was truly fascinating. Thank you to Dasy Goodwin and St. Martin Press for my gifted copy!

"Diva" by Daisy Goodwin is a book that truly touched my heart. It's a beautifully written story about a young woman named Isabella who chases her dreams in the world of opera. I felt a deep connection to Isabella's journey, her struggles, and her triumphs.

The writing is so vivid that it transported me to the opera houses and concert halls, where I could almost hear the music and feel the emotions of the characters. The story is a rollercoaster of emotions, and I found myself laughing and crying alongside Isabella.

What resonated with me most was the way Goodwin explored the highs and lows of chasing your passion. It's a reminder that success comes with sacrifices, but it's worth it in the end. The book also shows the power of music to bring people together and transcend difficulties.

The characters are complex and relatable, and their relationships are multifaceted and authentic. I loved watching Isabella grow and learn, and her journey inspired me to pursue my own dreams with courage and determination.

. It's a reminder to follow your heart and never give up on your passions. If you're looking for a book that will touch your soul and leave you feeling uplifted, then this is the one for you.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Netgalley and Publisher for generously providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I found this book slow going at the first. The characters were like the title, very diva-like. I enjoyed the story more as it progressed and I even began to like and root for Maria. I did enjoy reading about so many real life characters that are firmly part of American history. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.

I really liked this book, it was different than anything else I've read which was a breath of fresh air. I will be recommending this to my friends, and auto buy this author!

daisy goodwin has been one of my favorite authors for years, since first stumbling upon her books in my local library. so i was floored to be offered the chance to read this arc beforehand by NetGalley.

that being said. as with all her books, these are NOT autobiographical. they are dramatised, and extrapolated from real life history, letters, accounts, and diaries. the critics of this book claim that author debased the character of maria with the boorish and inappropriate behavior of aristotle. but i believe not only did such things occur, but that it is within the dramatisation to expound and extend those.

i’d never heard of maria callas before i got this book. so i went on a mission to listen to her, to read everything i could find about her. and i felt like ms goodwin did a good job offering that glimpse into a psyche that was STEEPED and GROUNDED in the inherent dramatics of opera. it was who she centered herself on, these roles she played. and her voice so long her value, she let love sweep her away from what she felt her purpose was.

there are a few things id think deserved warning, thematically i understand them, but i feel they should be pointed out none the less, there is a great deal of discussion for maria’s weight loss, how little she ate, how big she used to be, and all in negative terms. this could be triggering to someone struggling / recovering from an ED. there are also two suicide attempts, one by the MC one by her mother. there are a few recountings of a handsy singer with her, and others in the past. and also, with AO she is very much —… pliable to whatever he demands? so i tend to view that as skirting the edge of dubious consent. also the language surrounding elsa maxwell made me uncomfortable several times, a sapphic as well as larger woman, it made sense thematically that MC didn’t view her favourably. but was still not fun reading the rather disparaging descriptions etc. also, as the scorned woman, MC speaks poorly of other women several times in the book. Especially Jackie O. understandable but fair warning if you’re a jackie o fan.

all in all, it was a good book! i enjoyed it. it’s not my favorite of her works? but i think it’s down to, feeling like it was perhaps, lost a bit in the modernity of it? part of the glory of historical fiction such as my american heiress or even victoria, is the separation of time to haze over historical remembrances. while it’s the 100th year of maria callas as of the time of this review ( 2023 ), what is a hundred years to historical drama?

regardless, an enjoyable read and i’d rate it 3.5 out of 5.

Maria Callas, the famous Opera singer and her whirlwind life. She’s definitely a Diva and this story showcases her time with Onassis, before and after.
A wonderful read that was like reading a biography of Maria.

Thank you NetGalley, Daisy Goodwin and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Maria Callas was the epitome of the term ‘diva’ and perhaps Daisy Goodwin’s novel “Diva” is the antithesis. Callas was a tremendous talent with a very colorful, and in many ways, tragic life. Goodwin’s book doesn’t do Callas justice. It’s difficult to novelize a real person – what is true, what has been fictionalized. The book reads as a rather second-rate soap opera. Details are given to titillate rather than delve more deeply into Callas the person. The coming year is the 100th anniversary of Callas’ birth. Too bad this isn’t more of a celebration of her amazing skill as a singer. Instead, it concentrates on her weakness as a woman starved to be loved. Perhaps I would have found the book more successful if the writing was a bit more interesting and complex.

Diva follows Maria Callas, the world-renowned opera singer, and her whirlwind romance with Aristotle Onassis. This is the kind of historical fiction that I adore. I learned so much about Maria Callas, Aristotle as well as his future wife, Jackie O and her sister. What I really loved about this story was Daisy Goodwin's writing. The story was captivating and dramatic without being salacious or over-the-top.

“Great art is domination. It’s making people believe for that precise moment in time there is only one way, one voice. Mine.” Maria Callas

Long before Travis and Taylor, and Ben and Jen there was Maria and Ari!
Mary Anne Kalogeropoulou, a Greek American young girl transforms into Maria Callas, one of the most famous opera singers in the world. This well paced novel begins with news of the marriage of Maria’s long term lover, Aristotle Onassis to Jackie Kennedy. It then flashes back to Maria’s journey - her rise to international fame and the responsibilities and heart-brake that accompany it.

The side characters read like a who’s who of 1950-1960 celebrity. The Windsors, Marilyn Monroe, Noel Coward, Franco Zeffirelli, Grace Kelly are only a few among the cast. I’ll respectfully avoid the musical metaphors (there are many I could roll out) but I thoroughly enjoyed the cadence of the plot and it’s effectiveness in dropping the reader into the action. The pages are filled with lavish lifestyles on yachts, private islands and luxury hotels; a world embellished by jewels, gowns and curtain calls. But with this comes the grueling lifestyle of an artist being pulled in multiple directions. At the end of the day will Marie find the love she craves? Does she truly value her gift and her influence, or is she simply waiting for her time and talent to run out?

Ms. Goodwin’s latest novel builds tension like one of the operas in it, with an ending that had me diving deep into the history of this remarkable woman. Readers who have enjoyed Daisy Goodwin’s previous novels The American Heiress, Victoria, The Fortune Hunter (I’ve read them all) will devour her latest historical fiction achievement.
Many thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Although born with the gift of operatic genius which caused sold out shows and international accolades, it was fascinating how vulnerable Maria is as she desperately sought approval of those around her. She wanted to belong so badly and to feel needed that it really stunted her emotional growth. That is why she so willingly married her husband who was more of a manager than partner. Bruna was the one who truly showered Maria with love and affection. Maria was hugely critical of herself and berated herself of even the smallest mistake of which the audience did not notice. In this vulnerable state, it was no wonder she fell so madly in love with Ari and gave herself so completely to him. He may have said that they were two souls meant to be together which as the book evolved was pure fabrication but Maria clung to that belief. She changed her physical appearance and in many ways, let herself be bought by luxuries. What she so desperately wanted was slightly beyond her grasp and she was never going to get it. It was then that her life truly took on the characters that she performed. I was glad she finally closed the curtain as she deserved so much more.

I'd never heard of Maria Callas before reading this book, so I was amazed to find out how connected she was to the major figures of the sixties. I also didn't know that Jackie Kennedy got remarried, let alone that she married Maria Callas's ex-lover. That was all pretty mind-blowing. I got really swept into the glamorous world of high society in the sixties—the yachts, the jewels, the luxuries—but also the misogyny and how much it affected women from Jackie Kennedy to Marilyn Monroe to Maria Callas herself. There was lots of drama and betrayal and real heartbreak. Callas was portrayed as a real, flawed woman who went through a lot and was absolutely devoted to her art. I thought it was beautifully done.

Brava! A wonderful look into the drama and passion consuming the life of the worlds greatest diva! The glamor was enthralling as was the battle between passion in art and in love..

This was a fantastic read and I love getting to know every character and everything about the town and the setting. The cover really drew me in.

Famous opera singer and diva, Maria Callas is at the top of her career when she meets Aristotle Onassis. Although she’s married, she can’t help but get swept up in his romance and luxury. This makes people upset, and even though she acts like the diva she is and that it doesn’t bother her, it does. When she starts having vocal problems as well as problems with her lover, everything seems to fall apart.
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💭Thoughts💭
This was a little corner of history that I knew absolutely nothing about. I obviously knew about Jackie O remarrying, but had no idea of the drama of it all. There were many people name dropped in the book which was super interesting, but I have to say that the opera of it all just made me so bored.
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⌛️Favorite Moment⌛️
My favorite part was when Maria had to sing at JFK’s birthday party with surprise guest Marilyn Monroe. I loved that they included that piece of history and how Marilyn was portrayed in general.
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🎉 Theme Ideas 🎉
Stream some of Maria’s biggest hits on Spotify or go to an opera yourself! You can eat her favorite meal- a salad and some steak tartare.

I really enjoyed this story! . I went into this book not knowing anything about the subject. This was a beautifully written dramatization of the life of Maria Calles. It kept me engaged with great character development, and a little bit of drama and scandal. Overall a solid read I enjoyed and would be happy to recommend to others.

I’ve only ever read about Maria Callas from a fictional Jackie Kennedy’s perspective in other historical fiction so I was really excited to get to read this one just from Maria’s POV. I honestly really enjoyed this book. Maria was so fascinating with her career as one of the greatest opera singers of all time to her complicated relationships with her family, friends and rivals. I loved the non linear timeline. I felt like it added a lot more complexity to her character and it was very easy to follow. Even though I knew where the story was headed, it was still heartbreaking to see Maria’s relationship with Ari. There were times I was absolutely livid with him. I loved seeing that beyond this great beautiful talent was a woman who just wanted a passionate all consuming love. I did also enjoy seeing other famous people pop up in Maria’s orbit. The interaction with Marilyn Monroe was so charming and Princess Grace was written so well, I thought. Overall, this was a beautiful story of love, music, betrayal and strength that I’m so happy I read.
CW: infant death

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

"New York Times bestselling author Daisy Goodwin returns with a story of the scandalous love affair between the most celebrated opera singer of all time and one of the richest men in the world.

In the glittering and ruthlessly competitive world of opera, Maria Callas was known simply as la divina: the divine one. With her glorious voice, instinctive flair for the dramatic and striking beauty, she was the toast of the grandest opera houses in the world. But her fame was hard won: raised in Nazi-occupied Greece by a mother who mercilessly exploited her golden voice, she learned early in life to protect herself from those who would use her for their own ends.

When she met the fabulously rich Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, for the first time in her life, she believed she'd found someone who saw the woman within the legendary soprano. She fell desperately in love. He introduced her to a life of unbelievable luxury, showering her with jewels and sojourns in the most fashionable international watering holes with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

And then suddenly, it was over. The international press announced that Aristotle Onassis would marry the most famous woman in the world, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, leaving Maria to pick up the pieces.

In this remarkable novel, Daisy Goodwin brings to life a woman whose extraordinary talent, unremitting drive and natural chic made her a legend. But it was only in confronting the heartbreak of losing the man she loved that Maria Callas found her true voice and went on to triumph."

I mean, I know it's not another season of Victoria, but Daisy Goodwin is always able to make the historical human.