~I received an ARC copy of Diva through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review~

As someone who is only recently interested in the world of classical music and opera, the story of Maria Callas was never on my radar. I'd heard about Aristotle Onassis, more because of his relationship with JKO, but new almost nothing about the Greek diva who was also a major part of his life.

Diva takes us through the story of Maria Callas as the enigmatic opera diva that she was, her relationship with her 1st husband Battista, and the events that lead to her relationship with Aristotle Onassis. Diva doesn't set out to deify Callas, nor does it tear her down for her decisions - it humanizes her and her flaws, and gives life to an artist lost to time.

Maria Callas came from very little with mother who exploited her talent and dragged her from her home to Greece as a teenager. Despite her difficult background, Maria became known as la divinia—the divine one. The opera singer’s powerful voice was legendary and often moved her audiences to tears.

Known for her demanding demeanor, author Daisy Goodwin, gives us a glimpse of the real woman, behind the voice. The grudge Maria held against her mother, shaped her personality giving her a reputation of being difficult. But it was that same grudge that drove her to constantly work to perfect her craft. It was not until she met fellow Greek Aristotle Onassis, that Maria finally met a personality as big as her own. Though she was already married at the time, this didn’t stop the diva from getting what she wanted.

Diva follows Maria’s journey across a twenty plus year span from popular opera singer, to world-renowned diva. Her road was a rocky, but fascinating one. Despite all of her fame and success, Maria was a woman in love. Overall, the novel was interesting, but the writing was a bit choppy at times. Admittedly, my knowledge of opera is limited, but that lack of background knowledge didn’t detract from the reading. Fair warning there is sex is this book and one occasion was a bit unnerving, more like rape than consensual.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and of course the author Daisy Goodwin for the advanced copy of the book. Diva is out January 23rd of next year. All opinions are my own.

Whilst I was aware of the story of Maria and Ari this story being told from Maria’s perspective gives a new slant. You cannot help but be moved by Maria’s heartbreaking story. Even great women have weaknesses, usually men !

4.5 stars.
Thank you to both St. Martin’s Press, as well as Netgalley.com, for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest feedback. And, for my honest feedback, this was a truly enjoyable work of historical fiction, I know a bit about opera, and I had heard of Maria Callas - but this novel really had me wanting to read up on Maria Callas, Ari Onassis, and the many others in this work. The novel focuses on Maria Callas - the “diva” in the opera world - and he ultimate love affair with the wealthy Aristotle Onassis. The novel would make you smile or chuckle with how much of a diva Callas was - and how she knew she was the best. But as the story went on, you truly felt for her and for her desire to be Mrs. Ari Onassis, and how ultimately that would not happen. I enjoyed this novel and was truly happy to get an opportunity to read it. Definitely a “good read” of historical fiction.

Bravissima!!! Daisy Goodwin has written a masterpiece (again!). This historical fiction novel is about the life of Maria Callas, the greatest voice in Opera. Goodwin brings us into her life and all of her thoughts, including how she lost herself over Aristotle Onassis. This novel was incredibly well researched, and really brings the reader into the world of opera, as well as the 1950s-1960s. Although we all know the end of the story, this novel gives us so much more insight into the life and mind of one of the strongest women in history - a woman who, until now, has not been given her due credit.

I really enjoyed this book based on the famous opera singer, Maria Callas. I learned so much about her. Maria was an American born Greek soprano singer whose fame was known worldwide. They say her voice was a gift from the gods...Yet this was the one thing that haunted Maria...worrying that her voice would only last so long before it disappeared.
The story begins in the 1940's when Maria is a young girl. We learn about her unhappy relationship with her family, her mom in particular. As we flash forward, the readers see the money, power, fame and admirers (and sometimes critics) that surround her. At times, I felt Maria was not a very likeable character. She came off moody, demanding and self-centered, yet it was fascinating, and I couldn't stop reading. Despite her celebrity, Maria was lonely and often yearning for a "normal" life with a husband and children where she could spend her time in the kitchen cooking meals and cleaning a house full of her loving family. Yet Maria knew this life was out of her reach because of her voice. Despite her fame, she was consumed by her love for Aristotle Onassis, the wealthiest Greek tycoon who was her partner for many long years.
The book did end rather abruptly for me. I wish there was an epilogue, or an Authors note that summed up the last few years of Maria's life. I had to go online to research how Maria's last years were spent and the story of her death. Wish the author had included that in the story, but she didn't. I would definitely recommend this book! I received an e-book from the publisher via Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

I received a temporary digital copy of Diva by Daisy Goodwin from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Maria Callas, one of the world's greatest opera singers, falls head over heels in love with Aristotle Onassis. Her voice has always come first, but true love is taking over. Until it doesn't and Onassis marries the President's widow--Jackie Kennedy.

Call me ignorant, but I didn't know of Maria Callas prior to reading this story, so had no real attachment to her or her story and unfortunately didn't build one either as Goodwin's novel unfolded. Rarely do I not like the protagonist, and was shocked I did not feel anything for Callas. Maybe if I got more of Maria Kalogeropoulos and understood life in Nazi Greece with her mother, I would have appreicated Maria Callas, but we didn't.

Diva" by Daisy Goodwin is a captivating novel that delves into the tumultuous life of the legendary opera singer, Maria Callas. Set against the backdrop of the glittering world of opera, the book takes readers on a poignant journey through Maria's life, from her early struggles in Nazi-occupied Greece to her rise as the celebrated diva, known as la divina.

Goodwin's vivid storytelling brings Maria's character to life, portraying her as a woman who, despite her immense talent and beauty, grapples with the scars of a cold and austere upbringing that impacted her ability to form warm and caring relationships. As she falls passionately in love with the fabulously wealthy Aristotle Onassis, readers witness Maria's vulnerability and devotion, only to be shattered by his shocking decision to marry Jackie Kennedy.

Through heartbreak and devastation, Maria's journey of self-discovery and triumph unfolds. Goodwin skillfully weaves a tale of resilience, showcasing how losing the man she loved became the catalyst for Maria to find her true voice and embrace her inner strength.

Overall, "Diva" is a spellbinding novel that masterfully blends history, romance, and personal growth, making it a must-read for anyone intrigued by the lives of iconic figures and the complexities of human emotion.

I was looking forward to this but it ending up feeling like more of a slog for me.

I never connected to Maria. This book read more like a textbook than historical fiction. Everything feels very clinical, including the dialogue. I wasn't very familiar with Maria Callas before going into this but based on how she is portrayed in this book, I didn't come away feeling very impressed with her (or really character). There isn't a whole lot to like about her in this book which I think does a lot of discredit to the actual Maria.

Generally, the book also felt very repetitive. The first couple performance descriptions were interesting but by the end, I was just skimming to get through them. And the sex scenes were just.....not great.

All in all, I appreciated learning a bit about some historical figures that I didn't know much about but I'm not sure that I would recommend this to anyone.

Diva can no means be considered a biography of the fabulous opera soprano, Maria Callas, as it covers primarily the brief period of time in which she is involved with Aristotle Onassis, then the richest man in the world with only an occasional flashback to her childhood, her volatile relationships with the mother who exploited her young daughter’s voice and the sister who out-competed Calla’s for the love of the mother. Married young to a much older man, Battista Meneghini, she’d never experienced true passion. She found this once she was introduced to Onassis by Elsa Maxwell, a socialite/promoter.

I was eager to read a novel about Callas. I’ve listened to her for years on records and their more modern equivalents since I discovered opera while living a five-minute walk from La Scala. However, I found the prose rather simplistic and somewhat stilted. Although the book takes place in Paris, Milan, Athens, New York, but I rarely got a sense of them being distinctive places I remember from living there myself, except for a description of a New York City autumn. Goodwin did do a good job on capturing Calla’s personality, her drive, and how she was essentially a self-made woman. Like her, Onassis was self-made, going from a child selling cigarettes to a wealthy man living for the most part on his ultra-luxurious yacht, and how he used people to achieve his personal goals. He bought cachet when he sought ultra-wealthy, titled people to give panache to his own life.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. I usually read anything that has to do with history but somehow I didnt know this story existed. This story was SO INTERESTING! I loved every single moment of it! I started it at work and let me say i got nothing done at my desk today except finishing this story! Wow!

My mother loved opera. Every Saturday she would listen to opera on the radio and tell my sister and I that Maria Callas was the greatest Soprano the world would ever hear. Historical fiction is my genre of choice so I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of Diva to learn more about Maria Callas’ life and career.

There is no doubt that Maria Callas was an incredible woman with an extraordinary voice and an ego to match. At the same time, underneath her powerful persona, lived a woman with insecurities, who never felt loved by her mother, always second to her older sister. She could love deeply and she could be cruel. Both sides are evident in this story of her life.


I found Diva disappointing. The writing was more gossipy than informative, with too much focus on clothes, money and sex. Her marriage to Giovanni Battista Meneghini came across as more of a business arrangement than a happy union. Maria Callas was adored by opera lovers worldwide, yet the main focus of Diva remained on her unhealthy obsession with Aristotle Onassis.

That’s where Diva lost me. I wasn’t interested in her sex life with Onassis nor her whining and jealousy. I was stunned by the negative portrayal of Jackie Kennedy and her sister Lee Radziwill, as well as the manipulative and deceiving Onassis. Elsa Maxwell came across as a wretched woman; spiteful and desperate for attention.

As far as I’m concerned the heroine of Diva was Bruna, Callas’ assistant, who saw through the rot and stood by Callas through thick and thin.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the opportunity to read Diva in exchange for my honest review.

I am a big fan of Daisy Goodwin - I've read two of her other books and have rated them both 4 stars. However, I don't feel that this one lived up to the others. It feels unfinished and the story not as flushed out.

I am familiar with the story of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis. However the characters in this book didn't feel like they were real people at all. The way they spoke, interacted, and thought seemed too stiff. It is possible that Goodwin didn't want to fictionalize too much? But that would have made the plot more interesting for sure. I think everyone understands that historical fiction is a bit dramatized. If this book was a bit more developed, I would definitely give it a 4 star rating. As it is now, it is barely at 3 star level. I was disappointed in it for sure, but will definitely continue to read Goodwin's other work.

Another amazing historical fiction rendered by Daisy! All of her books are must reads! I loved it! True movie material!

I didn't love this one. But I also didn't hate it. But I did learn a little bit about history from it.

Redefining Having it All

Daisy Goodwin scores a home run with her story about Maria Callas’ career as a famous opera singer and her love affair with Aristotle Onassis.

Maria fought domination from her mother who exploited her for her voice, her first husband, Tita Meneghini, who was also her manager, who exploited her for her money, and Elsa Maxwell the gossip columnist who exploited her for her celebrity.

Enter Aristotle Onassis, the shipping magnate with his search to marry the most famous woman in the world while having a legendary opera singer as his mistress.

Maria competed with her sister Jackie for her mother’s love. The experience armed her for the battle ahead when she had to compete with Lee Bouvier and the widow Jackie Bouvier Kennedy for Aristotle Onassis’ love.

This compelling historical fiction redefines the concept of having it all. I thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this pre-released book in exchange for an honest review.

Daisy Goodwin's Diva is a fascinating and entertaining historical fiction novel of the life of Maria Callas. I'd recommend it to fans of opera and classical music, dramatic romance, and Goodwin herself. Four stars!

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC. It was much appreciated and enjoyed by me. The review I have written is my own opinion. I have enjoyed all of the author's books and this one was no exception. I understand that this is historical fiction but it is based on the true life of Maria Callas. Maria seems to have grown up in a cold, austere family. This impacted her relationships throughout her life and she was not seen as a warm, caring person. She was devoted to her career and put that ahead of all things. I could only feel sorrow for her when Ari married Jackie. She had to put on a brave face and pretend like it didn't matter. Could you imagine the eyes of the world on you and feeling that devastation? I have given this book a rating of 4 stars, rounded up from 3.5 stars. While I love reading books by this author, I really had no interest in opera or Maria Callas and that clouded my rating.

What an engaging novel. Maria Callas deserves to be talked about and known; her talent was remarkable. This book was also dotted with so much gossip and intrigue, Elsa Maxwell, royalty, Churchill, and ofcourse Jackie, Lee and Onassis. The book mostly focuses on both Maria and Callas; as two separate entities and the first being the woman who just wanted to be loved for anything but her voice. The latter terrified of spending all her coins and losing her identity. I put 'The Very Best Of'...on in the background while reading. It's not a complete portrait (the author admits this), and there's some liberties taken, but it's an excellent historical novel based on a true diva. Recommended.

DIVA
BY: DAISY GOODWIN

Before reading this historical fiction called, "Diva," written by Daisy Goodwin, I knew that Maria Callas was an internationally famous opera singer who was it's controversial if she was the most famous of the twentieth century's soprano singer's of opera. I knew of the tumultuous nine year affair she had with shipping magnate multimillionaire Aristotle Onassis. Until I read this excellent rendition of Maria Callas's life I didn't get to know her as intimately as I did until I read this.

The author states in the very beginning that while this isn't a biography of Maria Callas, that she has tried to stay as true in her representation of her life factually, and she has taken some license in switching some dates. I owe Daisy Goodwin, the author a great deal for I have learned a huge amount about Maria Callas that I didn't know until reading this fantastically written work. I wish their had been an Author's note in the end listing the sources of which she drew from to write this detailed portrayal of not only a talented Maria, but also a driven and strong woman who I admire even more after reading, "Diva,"

Maria Callas was born in Manhattan and lived there until she was thirteen years old when her mother brought her and her older sister Jackie back to Athens, Greece. Maria wanted to remain in New York with her father and attend the world famous music school Julliard. Her mother favored her sister over Maria throughout her young and adult life. It amazes me how disciplined Maria was about rehearsing and how much perseverance she had with such an unstable early upbringing.

This novel gives great detail tracing her performances in which she sang her heart out and how careful she was at protecting her voice. Aristotle Onassis was the great love of her life who she remained faithful to even though after the novelty of their relationship wore off he was unfaithful to her. She wanted him to marry her and even got pregnant with a son who she delivered too early resulting in a stillbirth. Onassis showered her with jewels, but wouldn't marry her which I felt so sorry for her. I loved the way the author portrayed Maria depicting her as the one to end their affair when she found out that he married the famous former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

I learned so much of what I thought that I already knew about Maria Callas, but by reading this well written novel, it proved me wrong. There is so much that I didn't know about Maria that I do now after reading this. That one of my top reasons for reading is to learn something new about a person or subject that I'm interested in and build upon it. On that note this author has succeeded with her beautiful portrait of Maria Callas that she has painted with words. This has made me curious to seek out biographies of Maria. I also want to read more of this new to me author's other books. That is the highest compliment and tribute that I can pay to author Daisy Goodwin. I highly recommend this wonderful historical novel to all who like reading about strong women who have an unbreakable spirit.

Publication Date: January 23, 2024

Thank you to Net Galley, Daisy Goodwin and St. Martin's Press for generously providing me with my eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.

#Diva #DaisyGoodwin #StMartinsPress #NetGalley