WOW! I could not put this book down. The storyline had characters that I recognized throughout history, but the story was not one I was familiar with at all. I know nothing of operas or opera singers, and I only knew of Aristotle Onassis as Jackie Kennedy’s other husband. Daisy Goodwin wrote the kind of historical fiction that I love. I lost myself in the fiction of the story that I came out learning so much more than I went in with.

Diva had me hearing Maria’s voice as she sang her heart out all over the world and feeling her hope at finally finding the love she’s been missing with Ari Onassis. I could picture the amazing stages that Maria performed on while seeing the audience raptured by her. The yacht, where a lot of her time was spent with Ari, was brought to life with the descriptions of the yacht itself but also by the people who visited or stayed there. The names dropped throughout the book helped set the timeframe and also the world that Maria lived in.


Daisy Goodwin wrote a book that came to life for me. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a phenomenal historical fiction book.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This historical novel is told mostly from the third person perspective of a real person - Maria Callas, who was a famous opera singer. The book begins in 1968 when she is upset that her romantic partner Aristotle Onassis has just married Jackie Kennedy. Then, after a brief flashback to her childhood, the bulk of the book is set between 1954-64 or so, during the height of her fame, her marriage, and her meeting Onassis.

Literally all I knew about Maria Callas was that she was a renowned opera singer, so after a bit of a slow start, I found this book absolutely fascinating, with the details of Maria’s career and personal life, and all the various other famous people who appear throughout its pages. Ultimately, I’d say I really enjoyed it but admired it more than quite loving it. (Something that I feel is not uncommon with books about real famous people; I often feel this way about Melanie Benjamin’s books for example). But I still enjoyed and would definitely recommend to those who like biographical historical fiction.

I went on quite the internet deep dive after reading the book, reading about Callas including her life before and after the focus of the book, and some of the other main figures as well, and also not only looking at pictures of her but listening/watching videos of her performing. I’m not at all an opera fan but even I can tell her voice is amazing and even gave me goosebumps.

3.75 stars

Maria Callas is not a name you'd find on many TBR lists. Most people would recognize the name but only becaause of her voice. Daisy Goodwin's fictionalized historical romance takes Callas' history and drops into a story so good, you'll research after you finish to find out which parts are fiction and which ones are fact. Maria Callas was indeed a diva. Her talent was undisputable and raised her to music icon level. Her life.......rocky, with many detours her celebrity could not protect her from. The book is well written. Goodwin skillfully paces the story to keep the reader interested and following as it winds through the many personal experiences that would leave her at the end with her music and her fans. 5 easy stars.

Diva tells the story of the famous soprano Maria Callas and her many achievements and setbacks throughout her life and career. Born in America but raised in Nazi-occupied Greece, Maria is able to hone her natural talent and work her way to the top of the opera world despite an absent father and a mother who sees Maria's talent merely as something to exploit for her own benefit. While dealing with the realities of a physically tolling career and a husband acting more as her agent than a partner, Maria meets the only Greek more famous than her, Aristotle Onassis. At first, their affair brings new life to Maria but eventually, it will only add to her heartbreak as her supposed "other half" betrays Maria more publicly and deeply than either her mother or first husband ever could.

One of my favorite things about reading historical fiction novels is learning about a person, event, or time that I know little to nothing about, and Diva fit that description perfectly. Although I did enjoy discovering Maria Callas and her fascinating story, I don't think Daisy Goodwin's delivery did her justice. In many instances, the novel and its dialogue felt extremely personal and came off as trying to be sensational and salacious rather than based on historical knowledge of Maria. There were also certain phrases used throughout the book that struck me as too modern a verbiage to be accurate to such a time. I understand that this book is fiction and artistic license might be taken, but I think readers should still be given as true and authentic a portrayal as possible.

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

Diva by Daisy Goodwin

Published: January 23, 2024
St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Biographical Historical Fiction
Pages: 336
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

This was such a classic story. The writing was splendid, and I loved the glitz and glamour. It was fascinating to have the characters be notable celebrities.

The storyline was beautiful and devastating, and I felt so much empathy for the woman with the voice of an angel. She just wanted someone to hear her while she was off stage, out of the spotlight. But to so many, she was just a musical puppet that brought fame fortune, and opened golden doors.

It was a well-paced read that will break your heart and get you in your feelings. Beautifully written, this was well done. I don’t think I’ve ever read a historical biography that is fiction mixed with fact. I enjoyed it.

Diva is a fictionalized story of the life of Maria Callas. A large portion of the story is about her relationship with Aristotle Onasis. It is not at all what I expected going into it. I think the author wrote a beautiful story that brings each moment to life. I actually stopped a few times and looked up historical events and even outfits Callas wore and the descriptions in the book were so good that I had pictured them correctly. If you want a book that praises Callas and celebrates her incredible talent, this isn't the book you are looking for. If you want a book that explores the complex person that was Callas as a star and as a woman, you might enjoy this. The author uses her creativity to imagine conversations and situations but they all feel real. I was left feeling sad at the end instead of uplifted by Callas' incredible talent but this was clearly a story meant to elicit the emotions of the readers. If you are looking for a quiet and well written historical fiction, you might enjoy this. I think Daisy Goodwin is very talented and I will read more from her in the future.

I received this eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

This was an interesting (fictional) character study of Maria Callas as she navigates her career and the globe-trotting society that she has arrived in.

I very much enjoyed this story of the love affair between Aristotle Onassis and Maria Callas. The author portrays them as being very much in love, but Ari had other plans and could never be happy with just one woman.

The ups and downs of this relationship told a story of the diva Maria who was gifted with an amazing voice, knowing that her golden coins (her voice) would one day be used up. She was a master at her craft, never allowing herself forgiveness if she failed to reach her pinnacle every time.

Ari was wealthy, had everything money could buy, beautiful woman, seemed to fall at his feet, not because of his looks but because he was adept at love making, making a woman feel special and let's not forget oodles of money. (a sure aphrodisiac)

Socially always climbing, he reached his summit when marrying Jackie Kennedy, the gilded rose he wanted even though he never really cared for her.

There were many surprises and the story went quickly by and was intense as both its main characters were.

Thank you to Daisy Goodwin, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this story due out this week.

Thanks so much for offering me an ARC of this story! I was so interested in the life of Maria Callas and this novel offered a lot of detail about a high profile decade in her life. I think it is tricky to write novels about a real historical figure because it seems strange to stray to far from true events but sometimes real life doesn't make for an overly compelling novel. The writing in this book was not my favorite and it was hard to stay focused not he book. I kept setting it down and it was a bit of a slog to get through due to some repetition in the storytelling.

Overall this was in interesting historical fiction novel that lacked a bit of spark for me. I do think it will have an audience with the right readers. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley!

Maria Callas, world renowned opera singer, had a dramatic, tempestuous life. Upon meeting Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, she finds herself falling in love with this enigmatic man. The story of their relationship and the addition of the Kennedy women make this a revealing book. Recommended reading.

I am a huge fan of historical fiction, I love to learn about history and things I don’t know much about. Diva focuses on a famous Greek Soprano opera singer. I had no prior knowledge of Maria Callas or her life until I read this book. It fascinated me to learn about her life, relationships and more about opera and performers.

Maria had a rough upbringing, her mother and father separated a when she young. She grew up in a Nazi-occupied Greece. She felt that her mother loved her sister more and her mother often took advantage of Maria and her talent. Maria ends up in a loveless marriage where her husband and friends exploit her for her wealth and voice. When she meets Aristotle Onassis, she falls for him and his lifestyle. She quickly ends her marriage and falls into a relationship with Onassis. It ends abruptly when Onassis marries Jackie Kennedy. There was so much more intertwined in this story, focusing on the life of a musical performer, preserving her voice and how much time she has left to perform.

I recommend this book to readers that have a taste for history and learning more. I enjoyed the writing style and storytelling. While reading I often found myself googling the lives of Maria, Onassis and Jackie Kennedy. It fascinated me to learn more about their lives.

Prior to reading this book, all I knew about María Callas was that she was an acclaimed opera singer. Callas was exploited throughout her life starting with her mother, managers, husband and even Onassis. She was a strong woman but as jot able to fully manage her life and talent. Ms. Godwin’s book kept my interest even when I did not like the characters.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

A historical fiction novel about an opera singer and a Greek tycoon. It started slow but didn't take long to pull me into the 1950's and 1960's. Obviously I knew more about Aristotle Onassis than Maria Callas but I was constantly referring to events in the book while looking up real life happenings on the internet. Perfect for readers who like a mix of history, a dash of romance with lots of heartbreak.

I have thoroughly enjoyed Goodwin’s other novels, and so I was very excited at the prospect of not only a new novel, but one that departs from the 19th century. Admittedly, I was not overly familiar with Maria Callas before reading this book, but I went into the experience hoping to learn more about this famous diva.

The bulk of the book deals with her tumultuous relationship with Aristotle Onassis, which ended when he betrayed her by marrying Jackie Kennedy. There is very little time devoted to her ascension to stardom (although there are some flashbacks), and despite the allusions in the book description to moving on after the end of her relationship with Onassis, the book essentially ends with the breakup.

In short, Goodwin spins a tale of a fascinating woman who started with nothing and rises to the top of the opera world. The timeline is nonlinear, and the skips are utilized masterfully to heighten the dramatic tension—emphasis on the DRAMA! The prose is scintillating, but not particularly lurid. If this had been pure fiction rather than a fictionalized biography, then the breakup would’ve been an amazing plot twist. In that regard, having more knowledge than a character is always an interesting reading experience.

I would absolutely recommend Diva. Goodwin has proved, without a doubt, that she doesn’t need to confine her talents to the 19th century sphere she has already mastered. This is a riveting portrayal of Maria Callas, and I am looking forward to reading Goodwin’s next book.





I received a digital ARC of this book from St. Martin’s/NetGalley

As a seventh grader, JfK’s assassination was burned into my memory. Everything “Jackie” made an impression on me. I definitely knew about Ari Onassis after Jackie married him; however, I do not remember hearing or learning anything about Maria Callas until many, many years later.

I enjoyed Daisy Godwin’s book and learned a lot about Maria Callas. At times, I felt too much time was spent on Maria’s early years. I would have liked the story to have had an epilogue showing what happened to her after Ari married Jackie.

I appreciate learning more about opera and Maria’s life in the world of Opera. There were many times I thought the author needed to “get on” with her story as parts felt repetitive. My thanks to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

Book Name: Diva
Author: Daisy Godwin

ARC
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an ARC of Daisy Godwin’s Diva

Stars: 2.75
Spice: 2

Standalone
Slow Paced
FMC POV
Historical Fiction

- Dual Timeline
- Tortured Artist
- Cheating
- Not a HEA
- Hard to like FMC
- Philandering MMC
- Weird Spice (Caviar?!?!?)

Daisy Godwin has the unique talent of bringing these lesser-known heroines of history to life. Their heartbreaks and victories shine through. This book was no different. I couldn't put it down. I went into the story of Maria Callas The Diva, completely blind… I was not expecting it to be primarily about her as the mistress to Aristotle Onassis with the tragedy and scandal of their romance prevalent… The tortured lives of artists are fascinating, which made me stick with this book especially because a lot of the pain Maria experienced was unfortunately self-inflicted. Overall this isn't the strongest of Daisy Godwin’s books because the characters are quite frankly horrible people however it was thoroughly enjoyable.

Wow! Where do I even start? "Diva" by Daisy Goodwin is a historical fiction novel that narrates the story of Maria Callas, one of the greatest opera singers in the world. We get to see her at the top of her carrer, glipses of how it all started, and the end of it all. We see her go from untouchable to insecure, wife to mistress, loud to silent. This book takes you on a journey where you will feel every emotion as if you are the one experiencing it. All the scandals, glamour, and diamonds lost forever. Truly,a work of art.

Now, since this is a work of historical fiction I must say, the people around her were horrible (except for dear Bruna). It seemed like everyone wanted something from her. She was no innocent damsel in distress herself, but for the second half of the book, I felt really sorry for her. She went through A LOT and still gave everything to her audience.

I must admit that the book made me really curious and I watched a couple of the performances mentioned in the book and I can see why people admired her so much. I was speechless.

If you like a good historical novel (and piping hot tea), you should 100% read this book. Do keep in mind that the following topics can be triggering to some and if you are one of them, maybe you should skip this one:
- cheating
- dieting (unhealthy eating habits and weight loss)
- unexpected pregnancy
- death of a baby
- emotional abuse

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This book came out on January 23, 2024. Huge thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me an e-arc of Diva for review. The opinions in this review are solely my own. My actual rating is a 4.5

While I have yet to read any of Daisy Godwin's books, I was really interested in Diva because I had heard of Maria Callas, but did not know anything about her since I was born after La Divina died.

Godwin weaves a masterful tale with carefully placed flashbacks to better understand the hardships of Callas' youth, her dysfunctional family dynamics and her first marriage which was more business than passion. The trajectory of her stellar career and as the title implies, larger than life reputation as a Diva leads up to the fateful meeting with Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, and an ill-fated yet passionate affair ensues.

Maria Callas was undoubtedly talented, a demanding force both on and off the stage, but she really wanted to be loved for her and not her persona, which eluded her in real life. Godwin portrays this conflict between her heart and longing for real love and the demands of her career beautifully.

I was swept back in time to Callas' heyday throughout this novel and the brushes with notable figures were a real treat. There are some spicy intimate scenes peppered throughout the second half, younger readers/parents beware.

Godwin masterfully brings life to La Divina in Diva, and I cannot wait to read what Godwin writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Diva!

Diva tells the story of Maria Callas, queen of opera sopranos during the mid-20th century. The story starts with Maria's reaction to her lover, Ari Onassis marrying Jackie Kennedy, and then jumps back in time to the period before she meets Onassis. This is simultaneously the point in her professional career when she is realizing that her voice is not going to be there for her much longer.

The beginning of the story was difficult for me to get into. Goodwin uses first, last, and nicknames interchangeably for the characters which made it difficult to follow. The first third reads more like a biography than an interesting historical fiction novel. As with life, all of the characters in the story were not very likeable - especially Onassis but Goodwin seems to vilify him especially. I found Maria's relationship with the opera far more interesting than her relationship with Onassis. As she loses herself in him, the story loses its shine. Overall I'm glad I read it as this was not an area I had any knowledge of before but I wouldn't pick it up for a reread.

If you are looking for a book with old Hollywood vibes and a factionalized tale of historical figures, Diva is the book for you.

Diva is a fictionalized take on the real opera singer Maria Callas and her life as a diva in her field.

What I liked: I had never heard about Maria Callas prior to reading this book, but I loved how the author took a character that could be seen as unlikeable into someone we cheer for. The way the author wrote the book made the dialogue and emotions of the characters seem like they really happened.

To keep in mind: This book was an interesting read, but I just felt it took a little too long before the plot started moving.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.