Diva, by Daisy Goodwin is a fictional account of the famous and infamous soprano, Maria Callus. Set later in her career, this book offers the readers flash backs that help explain details of Maria's life. La Divina's marriage and relationship with her husband helps move the narrative along as we experience the highs and lows of a singer of intense emotion and need for perfection. Although fictional, we do meet many historic figures and are taken along on the tempestuous relationship with Aristotle Onassis. Onassis, at the same time savior and villain, provides the opportunity for the reader to have a glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous. Anyone who knows about Maria Callus will not be surprised by the ending, but this is a must-read for any fan of hers or anyone who would like to become a fan.

I live a novel that fictionalizing real stories, especially if the setting is celebrity focused. This novel brought me all those - drama and romance, crushed hearts, exciting celebrity and gossip l, and overall a behind the scenes view that personalized someone who was just a name that I didn’t know much backstory on. Entertaining

Historical fiction at its finest. Really enjoyed the story, but too many typos in this version took away from it. Hopefully it will be proofread before publication. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Lovely book, though a bit slow in the middle and the ending was resolved too quickly (a few years are missing in the narrative).

I did not know much about Maria Callas before reading this book, other than she was a world famous opera star, but I now feel as if I really know her. She did not have a happy childhood. Her mother favored her younger sister until she heard her sing. Even though her singing helped the family during the war as they were in Greece Maria never felt her mother loved her. Maria married Giovanni Meneghini a man several years older who became her manager. This was more a marriage of convenience. Maria discovers that her husband has been funneling her earnings to his family. I thought the sections of the book that told of the hard work that went into each and every performance were very interesting. Maria's whole life changed when she met Aristotle Onassis - falling madly in love with him. Since reading this book I have listened to recordings of her beautiful voice and have learned more about her life. Thank you to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book. I really liked the author's style of writing and will definitely be ready other books by Daisy Goodwin

Diva by Daisy Goodwin is a fictionalised account of the life of singer Maria Callas and her love affair with Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis who is probably better known for his relationship with the former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. While I had heard of Callas, I had no idea that she had left her husband and embarked on a years long affair with the businessman. As a personality Callas is intriguing, with a complicated family history including a troubled relationship with her mother and a childhood that began in the United States before they moved to Greece where they spent the duration of the second world war . Her voice was discovered while she was a child and she was often pushed to sing in less than ideal conditions in order to help to provide for her family and before long she is being trained and groomed for stardom. The bulk of the story focusses on the second half of her career when she is already a success , called La Divinia and regarded as probably the best female singer in the world. When she meets Onassis, she initially dislikes him , with all of his ostentation and his reputation as a womaniser, but his magnetism soon wins her over and she finds herself drawn to him irresistibly, causing her to end her marriage to her manager and risking destroying her career in the balance. Life with Onassis is not all diamonds and delights however as Callas will find out and what is more of a Greek tragedy than discovering that the love of your life is going to marry someone else.
This was a relatively quick read and while I liked it I was not blown away by it. It felt quite passive and somewhat superficial, which made it difficult for me to connect with the characters in the way that I like to when reading. However there is certainly no shortage of drama and it did keep me turning the pages.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher , all opinions are my own.

Maria Callas is known as a la divina, the divine one. She’s one of the best Opera singers. Her fame was hard won, she was raised in Nazi-occupied Greece, and she learned early to protect herself.

When she met the fabulously rich Aristotle Onassis, she finally thinks she has found someone who sees the woman she is. She loves the life of luxury but just as quickly as it starts, it’s over and Maria is forced to pick up the pieces.

What an interesting read this one was. I enjoyed the story of Maria Kallas and her life as an opera singer. She had a nine-year relationship with Aristotle Onassis prior to him ending things and marrying Jackie Kennedy. This book was a whirlwind that didn’t stop. I struggled with the back-and-forth timelines. For Maria, being an opera singer, the book wasn’t as focused on the opera as I thought it would be. Maria came across as difficult and prickly while Aristotle was more of a philanderer. I’m not sure if this was for the story or how they were in real life, that is a struggle with historical fiction, you never know what is real and what is for the story. I usually don’t have a problem with this and love historical fiction, but something about this one was a little off for me. I think in this case I would have enjoyed it more had their been an explanation of what was fictionalized for the sake of the story somewhere.

If you are looking for a historical fiction about a notorious love affair, then check this one out.

Thank you to the publisher St Martin’s Press, @stmartinspress, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Maria Callas, a world-renowned opera singer, and Aristotle Onassis, a wealthy Greek magnate, are lovers for nine years before Onassis marries Jackie Kennedy. At a dinner at Maxim’s, Elizabeth Taylor helps Maria Callas appear to be Onassis’s happy and carefree ex-lover. I’m hooked. I want to know all about Maria Callas and her relationship with Aristotle Onassis. How do they meet? What is their life like together? What are the details of their split from one another? The author, Daisy Goodwin, lays out the story of Maris Callas’s life in this interesting and enjoyable historical fiction. My pleasure reading this book is amplified by my listening to recordings of Maria Callas. Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advance reader copy of DIVA.

Diva by Daisy Goodwin is a heartfelt story about the great diva Maria Callas and her affair with Aristotle Onassis. We see how her marriage to Tita was unfulfilling and more supportive of her career, but Maria was missing someone who loved her more than her talent. She meets Aristotle and eventually succumbs to the attraction between them and leaves her husband as she believes she finally found her other half that loves her for who she is, something she also felt was missing in her childhood. However, after Ari divorces his wife, will he marry her or keep to his profligate ways?

I loved this story. It took a few chapters to learn the background, but I was entranced by the story. Maria is a fully developed three dimensional character. Although you may not always agree with her, you can empathize with her desire to be loved for who she is and understand the reasoning behind her actions, especially when the public or her fans do not. I was so entranced with the story, I wish it continued on past the point it stopped, although I also saw it was a fitting conclusion to the story told.

Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for access to an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Before Princess Di there was America's Princesses, The widowed Jackie Onassis. But before Aristotle loved Jackie, he loved Maria. A talented and ruthless business woman who finally owned her own voice and reached the stars. Aristotle exposed Maria to the shady side of her business and talent but he also immersed her into his billionaire lifestyle. Only to take it all away when Jackie became Jackie O.
Though I feel for Maria during so many points in the story, I can't help but think that being a little footnote in history because of who she dated is better than the family curses of the Onassis' and Kennedy families.
Goodwin never lets her readers down due to her emotional connection with her nonfiction characters and her eye for historical details.

What a life! Maria Callas-the brilliant opera star-lived a life of passion and like her voice her career soared to unfathomable heights, but she also had a life filled with tragedy most notably an ill-fated love affair with powerful shipping magnate, Ari Onassis, who would betray her love and pursue another equally famous woman-the widowed Jacqueline Onassis. This book was a powerful tribute to the incredibly strong woman who rose above and it reads like a biography although it's a work of historical fiction. I highly recommend!

Beloved opera singer Maria Callas, despite being married, is pursued by shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. They begin an affair that will last for years, cause her much sorrow, and provide her with emotions that she uses in her performances. Through the story of their relationship combined with flashbacks from their poverty-stricken youth, we learn that both have searched for approval and acceptance all their lives. In spite of their “charmed” success, this search is never fully resolved. They seem happiest when together yet their commitment is not firm. She is often broken. Daisy Goodwin’s imagery in the passages describing Maria’s operas are so rich I felt a witness to her phenomenal performances. This is a work that will stay with me.

This is an outstanding book about Maria Callas and her life with Aristotle Onassis. I knew who she was but knew very little about her family dynamics before and after Onassis came into her life. This was a book that I did not want to put down and read it from cover to cover. Daisy Goodwin tells the story in such a compelling way that this is sure to be a hit with everyone. Hob knobbing with the very rich and famous is delightful as you learn that even these people have stories of their own. The description of her fashions and diamonds that were gifted to her leaves me speechless. The story is wonderfully written and draws the reader into the world of opera and how very hard it is to practice all the time, giving up so much of you for the sake of the songs in the current project. There is so much more to know about Maria and this reader really enjoyed getting to know her.

I wish to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I took a deep dive into opera when The Met offered a different opera to stream for free each evening for a couple of years during the pandemic. One of opera's biggest ever stars was Maria Callas, who lived from 1922 to 1977. I'd heard of her, and in fact, recently I redeemed a summer reading prize coupon at the library for a 2-CD set of her singing the lead in a 1958 recording of La Traviata. I can't tell you how many Sundays I've enjoyed listening to it as I drive to organ church.

So when I saw a new historical fiction book about her at NetGalley, called "Diva," I scooped it up. I'm glad I did.

There are brief flashbacks to her childhood in the US, but the book mainly focuses on Maria's life in her 30s. Maria always felt unloved by her mom, who seemed to prefer her older sister. This was a struggle for Maria throughout her life, even after she gained worldwide fame as a singer. She married a man 30 years older, who served as her manager, but theirs never seemed like a love match.

Then, in her 30s, she is invited by busybody journalist Elsa Maxwell to stay on the yacht of Aristotle Onassis. I knew of Onassis as Jackie Kennedy's second husband, and I knew he was usually portrayed as ultra-rich, vulgar, and over-the-top. That description pretty much matches his depiction here. He sets his sights on Maria and the two begin an affair. But while Onassis sees Maria as a conquest, Maria seems to truly fall in love with him. Bad idea.

As the years pass, Onassis's wife leaves him and Maria leaves her husband. The two bond over their shared Greek heritage. Maria wants to marry Onassis, but their Catholic faith makes this problematic. "Maria, my love, isn't it enough that we are together?" Onassis asks her. "Remember that if we were married, I might be tempted to find myself a mistress."

While all this is going on, there are frequent references to operas that Maria is singing in. I was familiar with most of these, which was fun. Author Goodwin also ties in bits about the opera plots as being symbolic of bits of Maria's life. There are parts that discuss her singing and her frequent fears that her famous voice might quit on her at any time. She listens to a recording of a singer, " ...singing in a language that she didn't know. But although she didn't recognize the words, she understood from the music that the song was about wanting something very much, and that it was better to have the hope of having it than nothing at all." Kind of sums up most operas!

I enjoyed the bits about the life of an opera diva. Frequently Anna Netrebko, a famous soprano who I follow online, came to mind. She is always posed artistically in designer clothes. This book contained dialogues where Maria and her agent husband argue back and forth over whether or not she should sign for a certain performance, and what the consequences might be for her professionally if she didn't. She was also prone to cancelling performances at the last minute, which seemed very diva-like. Such a life is so different from those most of us lead.

"There was something in the applause that gave her strength; it was a feeling impossible to find elsewhere; it was the strongest love she had ever known." Sadly, once she meets Onassis, she learns what true love feels like. But, he begins playing the field almost immediately, and history of course records his 1968 marriage to Jackie Kennedy, who he invited to his yacht just a month or so prior to JFK's death.

The book ends after Onassis has visited Callas, lamenting his belief that he's made a mistake in marrying Jackie. But Maria has his number by now, and rejects his advances. Is this factual? I don't know enough about Callas to say. But I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it if its themes pique your interest.

As a fan of Goodwin's previous historical fiction, I eagerly anticipated her latest about Maria Callas, the great opera diva. Luckily, I was not disappointed.

If you want a story filled with delicious details about the ups and downs of being an opera superstar and ill-fated passion, look no further. The horror of Greek life during World War II is also an important aspect of the story.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fourth historical fiction novel of Daisy Goodwin’s that I have read. I can depend upon entertaining reads that lead me down internet history rabbit-holes. This book follows famed mid-twentieth century opera singer, Maria Kallas, as she fall into a steamy romance with Greek shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis. This book is entertaining and easy to read but the main “characters” are just so difficult to like. Maria is portrayed as prickly and Aristotle as a slimy philanderer. While these characterizations may be true to life, it was still hard to enjoy reading about. I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book and to give my honest opinion. I have been curious about Maria Callas since I was 15 and my mom took me to see the great Audra MacDonald in it. This book as nothing short of fabulous. The detail is something I truly appreciate. I have a clear picture in my mind of every character and their clothing. This book is a must read!

Daisy Goodwin's "Diva" unfolds the captivating tale of Maria Callas, the renowned opera singer known as la divina, and her scandalous love affair with Aristotle Onassis, one of the wealthiest men of his time. Set against the backdrop of the glittering world of opera, the novel delves into Maria's journey from a challenging childhood in Nazi-occupied Greece to her rise as an opera sensation. When she meets Onassis, she believes she has found someone who sees beyond her legendary soprano persona. The narrative explores their passionate romance, the opulent lifestyle it entails, and the heartbreak that follows when Onassis announces his marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy. Goodwin skillfully brings to life the complexities of love, fame, and self-discovery in this historical fiction, portraying Maria Callas not just as an iconic figure but as a woman who found her true voice amidst heartache and triumph.

I love stumbling upon books like these. Books that give me an insight into the life of a historical person that maybe I had never heard of before or encountered. This book does a stunning job of telling the story of a very talented singer, Maria Callas. I think it does a lovely job of walking you through Maria’s ups and downs when it came to her career and then her very public relationship with Aristotle Onassis. I loved the imagery of singers having a treasure chest inside them. Each performance costs so many gold coins to sing. One never knows how many coins are left. I think that is a beautiful and tragic way to look at the voice of someone who was so amazing, but the imagery is just amazing. Maria really leaps of the page, and you are swept up in a world where Maria knows she is loved for her voice but does anyone truly love her for anything beyond her talent.
Thank you so very much to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title. I am truly looking forward to recommending it.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Diva is a moving tale about the notorious affair between Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis. I didn’t even realize until I opened up the book that it was based on a true story with fictionalized elements. I enjoyed reading about Jackie Kennedy, Lee Radziwill, Winston Churchill, and the various other real people who Maria encountered in her life. It was enjoyable and interesting.

Thank you again for the ARC!