I have a passing knowledge of opera, but had never heard Maria Callas sing. When I began reading this, I looked up some performances on YouTube and was mesmerized!

I thought Daisy Goodwin captured the glittering world -- hobnobbing with the likes of Churchill, Princess Grace and Liz Taylor -- and balanced it with the downside that such celebrity brings.

I look forward to sharing this with our library book club!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Diva by Daisy Goodwin!

Diva by Daisy Goodwin

I'm of two minds about this novel. I knew very little about Maria Callas until I picked up this book, started reading it, and also watched her perform and read more of the facts of her life online. With this story we see what made her the way she was, the hardships of her childhood, the feelings of being used by her mother while also feeling slighted by her mother for not being beautiful and fair like her older sister. Once Maria's natural talent was noticed, she had the skill and drive of an elite athlete, eventually even taking it upon herself to go from 220lbs to the slim and streamlined woman she was for the rest of her life. She certainly did play the part of a diva but she was the real thing. An artist at the top of her game, one of the best, and the more I read about her and watch her, the more I'm impressed with her determination, drive, and talent. She was also a beautiful woman and it's a shame that she wasn't always able to see that about herself.

Sadly she is also known as the mistress of Ari Onassis, who was dumped by him when he took up with Jacqueline Kennedy. In fact, that's almost all I knew about her until I started reading this book. When Maria met Ari she was worried that she was aging out of her career, something that probably was coming on quicker due to being overused by those who didn't care about using up her voice when she was younger. With the appearance of Ari in her life, Maria was willing to throw everything aside like a besotted teenager falling for an older bad boy. And Ari was bad when it came to women, no one and nothing was off limits for him and any woman who thought he had his eyes, hands, and other parts just on her was sorely mistaken. This is where I had a hard time with the story. I wish we could know they had sex without us being there. Nothing is sexy about Ari Onassis but Maria was totally bedazzled by him although so were many of the most famous women in the world. Money makes things happen, that's for sure. There is so much more to Maria Callas than could be shown here but I do think her unhealthy obsession with a man who would never really love her is well portrayed. I just wish the story had kept us out of the bedroom (or lifeboat). 3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Whether you know who Maria Callas is or not, this is a great read! I really enjoyed learning about the Diva, her struggles, and her professionalism. I love a book that it picks my interest and leaves me wanting more...I probably spent a couple hours looking for pictures of Maria and learning about other characters such Elsa Maxwell, Aristo Onassis, and the Kennedy Sisters.

It was a great book. Definitely recommending it!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Daisy Goodwin for this ARC

Diva is the story of the worlds most celebrated Opera singer Maria Callas. It showcases her tenacity, perseverance, in an ever demanding and competitive world of opera to be the best. She was revered as the greatest. We follow la divina as she was often called through her many points in her life but this story starts at the end of a tumultuous relationship with Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis and world’s richest man. He is set to marry famous First Lady (and widow) Jacqueline Kennedy despite his very open and public relationship with Maria Callas. We follow her through the years in her youth and her relationship with her mother who exploited any opportunity to take advantage of her daughter’s talent. To an even more advantageous marriage to her Italian husband whose main goal was to squeeze as much money out of Maria as he could. The author does an amazing job at weaving the story in a way that seems relatable yet heartbreaking. Maria is not only an esteemed opera singer but a vulnerable woman whose trials and tribulations seemingly mean to be thwart her happiness but despite it all she perseveres even if it’s temporary. She’s exudes every class despite the media and public’s critique of her performances and relationships. It seems that at every turn she is set to suffer from the many exploitative relationships and friendships. Her relationship with Onassis is one that is filled with manipulation from the start. It seems she loses herself to love. You feel her vulnerability in wanting to be loved and truly seen heartbreaking. But you are reminded that despite it Maria will triumph. In the end the truest love is the one she has for herself and her will to never give up or give in.
I absolutely adored this and would highly recommend. My only issue is I wish Daisy Goodwin would put historical notes or author notes in her books so we know what was accurate or embellished for the story.

Thanks to @netgalley, @stmartinspress, @daisygoodwin

This is set for publication on January 23, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

This book is fine. I didn't know much about Maria Callas so it was interesting to get a glimpse into her person and career, as well as an understanding of the extreme demand of an opera singer. But the story just didn't grab me. The writing is fine, the characters are fine, the story is fine...not great, entertainging, or exciting, just...fine. I found myself having to talk myself into picking the book up and keep going. I finally gave up about halfway through, which after reading other people's reviews, I'm glad I did. Thankfully I didn't have to put up with the graphic sex scenes.

If you're into Goodwin and Callas then give it a try. But I bet you'd have 10 books on your to-read list that you'd enjoy reading more.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to learn about this amazing woman! I don’t know that I’d ever heard about Maira Callas, but I was enthralled by her story! Now that I’ve read this. I really don’t like Aristotle Onassis! 😂

Diva transported me to a world of glitz, glamour, heartbreak, and history. Based on the life of Maria Callas, it detailed her childhood struggles, the great gift of her singing, and her affair with Aristotle Onassis. I've always been drawn to the Kennedys & knowing there was some overlap here made it a book I couldn't put down! Maria's life was complicated, but Goodwin does a wonderful job illuminating her life's story. Definitely recommend if you're in the mood for a compelling read!

This book is coming out at the perfect time. It’s the 100th year anniversary of her birth. I was curious about Maria Callas. I knew she was a famous soprano, but have never heard a recording of her voice (something I have since rectified). I was more familiar with her relationship with Aristotle Onassis.
The book succeeds as an historical fiction in that it taught me something I didn’t know. In addition to learning about both her life and Onassis’s, there were interesting facts about Greece during WWII and afterwards during the Civil War.
My fault with the book involved Godwin’s style. I found the writing to be basic, to the point of being boring. Also, way too much was made over her clothes and figure. And there’s a soap opera feel to the way Goodwin tells the story - too much sex and dramatics for my taste. But at the end of the book, I felt like I had a good feel for who she was, the sacrifices required to be a successful opera singer and how her personal life made her an even better opera singer.
It was also interesting to learn of the initial interactions between Ari and Jackie.
I would have also liked to have learned more about Elsa Maxwell. Goodwin was a little too covert about her feelings for Maria. I kept getting these vibes like she had a crush on Maria. I actually had to google her to learn if she was a lesbian.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

I had no idea this person existed or that she dated Aristotle Onassis or that he left her for Jackie Kennedy. So this was a great historical fiction version of her existence. I thought the characters were well developed and the story, for the, most part, well written. It is a bit slow moving, though, and the ending is very abrupt. The only part of the story I found disappointing. I would have loved to read more on that period of her life and how she reacts to Ari leaving her.

Loved this one! loved the dramatic flare that Maria had through out this story and as a main character. Even this work is fiction I loved the little bits of historical moments that Maria was involved in. I never knew Maria's story but I loved her strength and inner monologue that was a softer side that the people didn't get to see.

Diva is a beautifully written novel that seamlessly blends history, romance, and opera. The reader is drawn into the world of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis, experiencing the highs of their love affair and the lows of its inevitable challenges. Goodwin skillfully captures the essence of Maria Callas, not just as a virtuoso on the operatic stage but as a woman navigating the intricacies of her personal life. Fans of historical fiction, romance, and music will find themselves enthralled by the timeless melody of this captivating novel.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the Arc.

A fascinating woman who led an incredible life. We know her name as a great opera diva, but there is a rich backstory revealed here.

My thanks to Net Galley and St Martin s press for allowing me to review this arc.

Book was very well written and structured. I learned a lot about Maria Callas, her career,and her relationships with Ari Onassis. I did struggle a bit. Story seemed to drag. Packed with a lot of details, opera , and Italian terms.

Maria Callas is a world-renowned opera singer dating one of the richest men in the world Aristotle Onassis...until he marries Jaqueline Kennedy and the media has a field day with it. The characters were amazing and the drama within the story interested me from the start. Maria was a woman who fell in love with someone who was always going to be looking for more. Sadly, I found the writing lacking and that pulled away from the story for me. I know this will fit someone's reading life perfectly though!

I was excited to get this ARC and I really enjoyed this book. This book is about the love affair between the opera singer, Maria Callas, and Aristotle Onassis. I knew nothing about Maria and the only thing I knew about Aristotle Onassis is that he married Jackie Kennedy. I did not realize they married in the 1960s. I thought it was later than that but apparently not. This book opens when Aristotle is marrying Jackie, and Maria then looks back on her life. Aristotle and Maria were both married when they started their attraction to one another. Aristotle was a man with a lot of money and held all of the power. He and his wife both had affairs. Aristotle was all about whatever was shiny and new and Maria Callas was definitely shiny and new. I went down the youtube rabbit hole after reading this book to look at videos of Maria singing and of her and Aristotle. By the way, Maria sang at the infamous JFK birthday party. And Aristotle might have been with both Jackie and her sister. Ew. There is a book by Gill Paul, Jackie and Maria, so I will probably read that one too.

-"And frankly the press will hate me whatever I do, so I might as well do what I want."

-"Maria, my love, isn't it enough that we are together? Remember that if we were married, I might be tempted to find myself a mistress."

-It occurred to her that singing was like sex: if you were relaxed and enjoying it, then everything came easily; but when you were worried about the result, then every muscle seemed to work against you.

The December 3, 2023 New York Times has an in depth article on Maria Callas. The 100th anniversary of her birth has just passed so she will be receiving much attention I expect. Author, Daisy Goodwin, had good timing in writing this historical novel about the world renowned star. Note that Goodwin has written other enjoyable historical fiction including The American Heiress and, Victoria. She has another good book here.

Readers are invited into Maria’s world from the very first page. She has an interesting and tumultuous life. She was a less favored child to her more beautiful (blonde) sister whose mother only seemed to see her when she realized Maria’s gift. Maria struggled with what today is called body image. Almost everyone knows how her love affair with Aristotle Onassis ended and the trajectory of her career. These topics and more are in the book.

Readers will, I think, feel empathy for Maria as they read this title. Despite her success, she struggled with her appearance, her self-esteem and her perfectionism.

Readers are given an inside look at the glitzy world that Maria inhabited with many names dropped including Elsa Maxwell, Franco Zeffirelli, Marlene Dietrich, Rudolf Bing, Liz Taylor…and these all just at the beginning of the book. Readers will discover many more.

Settings are well described. There are stages, parties, yachts but also places like Maria’s childhood home. There is music. There are relationships. There are success and heartache. What more could a reader of (historical) fiction possibly want?

I highly recommend Diva. For me, it was an immersive read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

I grew up knowing and hearing about Maria Callas and her tragic relationship with Aristotle Onassis. Diva brought this larger than life figure to life for me and gave me more understanding of what made her great, and tragic. An engaging read which I would recommend to opera fans interested in this unique fixture from opera history.

I decided to be done with this at the 20% mark. I don't often abandon books, especially ARCs, but this one just wasn't engaging me enough even to push through it. At 20%, I felt no draw to any of the characters, could find no real plot to the story, and just didn't find it compelling at all. The timeline jumps around with little rhyme or reason, characters enter the story with little explanation of who they are (the author doesn't seem to grasp that opera stars are not as well known as mainstream Old Hollywood celebrities), and there is so little nuance to Goodwin's writing style. "Don't tell, show" is a basic creative writing maxim that Goodwin has yet to learn..

All in all, I learned very little about Maria Callas in the approximately 70 pages of this book that I read, other than that this portrayal of her is whiny and selfish - the title, at least, appears to be appropriately chosen. I'm choosing not to finish this so that I can spend my time reading books that I will enjoy more.

Thank you very much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to try reading Diva by Daisy Goodwin. Although I didn't care for the book, it is always an honor to be given the opportunity to read and provide feedback on an author's work.

Delving into the life of Maria Callas, the author brings to life the early painful relationship with her mother and sister, the growth of her talent and fame, her personal life including her affair with Aristotle Onassis. Full of details and occasionally so many details the story bogs down, DIva will still attract biography readers.