This one started off a bit slow for me - there are quite a few characters mentioned, dual timelines, and multiple perspectives. However, once I really got into the main plot line and storytelling, I did enjoy this slower-paced historical novel. (And enjoyed the opportunity to read a historical novel not set in WWII, since that so dominates the industry.)

One of the big things I enjoyed about this was it didn't try to redeem Picasso; it seemed to simply show him for the womanizer that he was - and truly did focus more on the women (one in particular) of the story. It also showcased one of the female artists that also impacted the art world at the time, but is frequently overlooked or forgotten about for her male peer.

Additionally, while I enjoyed our more modern character and her relationship woes - I wasn't invested in the romance side plot and how that evolved for that character; it seemed slightly out of place for me. Overall, I did enjoy this book - even though I struggled a bit with the slower pace.

In Picasso’s Lovers Jeanne Mackin transports us to the 1920s for one sensual summer in the South of France.

In 1953 Alana Olson is mourning the death of her mother and looking to make a name for herself as a journalist. She wishes to highlight lesser known artists, such as Irene Lagut for the Art Today magazine, but her editor isn’t willing to take the chance. Picasso is the household name and Alana is tasked with finding a new angle. As she plans her story and digs deeper into her mother’s own past, she finds a connection she wasn’t expecting.

Mackin does a beautiful job weaving fact with fiction and bringing the lesser known people to light. Most of us know at least something about Picasso and his influence on the art world, but not as many can name the women who inspired him. I enjoyed reading both timelines and thought the story really picked up once Alana meets Sara Murphy. I was so captivated by Sara’s story of her time spent as Picasso’s lover and muse, and was surprised to read she was a real person.

I don’t read much historical fiction, but I thought this was unique and captivating story. The timelines connected in a way that made sense and both timelines had plenty of drama and intrigue. I was entertained the whole way though. Even if you’re not a fan of historical fiction I think this story would appeal to a wide range of people.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a review copy.

I wasn’t sure how I would like this one at the start but once Alana was introduced, I was immersed. I loved her part of the story and seeing things from her POV.

Picasso was a lady’s man and bit of a cad, but the story focuses more on the women who loved him and their complex relationships. The fighting and one upmanship they used to try and be his one.

Alana, in her investigation to write a unique article, meets a socialite who tells all of her time with the artist. Her discoveries paint quite the picture of him and she learns of secrets that rock her world. I really related to Alana and thought she was the perfect fictional character to include to tell the story of these women.

Caroline Hewitt, Hillary Huber and Gilli Messer were great narrators of this epic story. They brought the story to life.

✨ Review ✨ Picasso's Lovers by Jeanne Mackin

Things I loved about this book
-learning more about the women in Picasso's life through their POV
-the 20s storyline of parties alongside paintings all with a dose of the anxiety of the interwar period with the rise of dictators in Spain and Italy
-the seaside French location of parts of this 20s story 😍
-the real world characters like Irene Lagut!!

Things I didn't love about this book
-the 50s storyline with Alana - at first I appreciated it as a frame for exploring Picasso's life through women, but when it shifted to her adventures I became less interested.
-the Communism/McCarthy era plot of the 50s storyline was really interesting but felt underdeveloped
-the parallels drawn between characters could have been developed more strongly
-Alana pitches a story about Irene Lagut instead of Picasso, and ironically, I felt like that was the story I was dying to know vs. the Picasso centered story that's here instead.

All in all, one timeline of this dual timeline book worked better for me, but I still think this would be a fun light beach read for historical fiction lovers!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: dual timeline historical fiction
Setting: 1920s France + 1950s
Pub Date: Jan 23, 2024

Thanks to Uplit Reads, Berkley, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and Jeanne Mackin for an ARC of this book!**

As much as the world already knows, Alana Olson believes there is more to Picasso's story than meets the eye...and she is DETERMINED to write the perfect article to reveal the truth. As a female journalist amidst a sea of men in the 1950's, Alana has her work cut out for her...and knowing Picasso's philandering ways, there is a part of her that is apprehensive about diving into the past of this master. However, her determination leads the way, and Alana dives into the investigation head-on. Her research leads her to Sara Murphy, who knew Picasso and spent time with him back in 1923...and she has QUITE the tale to tell.

While Alana finds herself wrapped up in her own 'affair' of sorts with a handsome man who owns the hotel she is staying at, the more she learns about Picasso, the more intrigued she becomes...and feels like there is one piece to this puzzle that has specifically led HER here. Finding out the truth behind the many affairs and romantic entanglements that inspired Pablo to create some of his most iconic works and the many muses that ended up in his bed (or wished they had!) What Alana discovers seems like a coincidence...but could there be even MORE to this story than she ever imagined? Will she have the courage to look the artist himself in the eye...and demand the answers she is desperate to discover? Or will her fear, looming political tensions in the world around her, and the internal struggle about whether or not to remain in her marriage keep her distracted from a potentially life-changing truth?

For historical fiction to truly work well for me, it needs three elements: an authentic and atmospheric setting, compelling and realistic characters, and a plot that doesn't get overly convoluted due to messy timelines or sloppy storytelling. I am glad to say that with this book, Mackin delivered on ALL three levels. This is a bit of a slower book to start, and the first bit is narrated by one of the women in Picasso's life, Irene. When the narrative switched, I first thought we were going to receive narration from ALL of Picasso's lovers mentioned in the text (In sort of a round robin way), and although I thought this would be confusing after a while, I thought it was a clever device. Luckily, the narrative switches to Alana and stays there for the majority of the book...and I think this was to the benefit of the story, as it helped me keep details, time, and of COURSE the women, straight throughout.

There's something enchanting about the air of the French Riviera, especially during the time period explored in this story, and even the cover immediately draws you into this era effortlessly. I appreciated all of the nods to the time period and as someone who was relatively uninformed about Picasso prior to reading this book, I felt like I got brought up to speed quickly. References to some of his most famous paintings, from Guernica to The Lovers, helped to bring the story to life and neatly blended the line between fact and fiction. Mackin also mentions in her authors note specifically what was complete fiction versus reference to real life for clarity, and these are the sort of touches that made this an informative experience while still having the 'fiction' feel.

The third act conflict, especially, feels both expected AND very unlikely...but at the same time, there is JUST enough potential for it to BE true based on what we come to learn about both Picasso and Alana that it almost gives the story an air of magical realism. Do you need to suspend disbelief a little? Sure. But since it's only a minor suspension, it felt very in line with the context of the overall story. Mackin's attention to detail in weaving in the political climate of the time, and mirroring the infidelity in Picasso's story with the infidelity in Alana's own present situation, helped to expand the depth and breadth of the narrative too. And of course, there's the character of Picasso...who is a real person, of course, but it's up to YOU whether you sympathize with him, are angry with him...or, like so many in his life, just find him IMPOSSIBLE to truly figure out!

Though studying Picasso's Lovers through the lens of this semi-fictional tale is only one piece of the elaborate puzzle that was Pablo Picasso, it is his genius that can't truly be put into words. And no one put this inner dichotomy of man vs. art into better perspective than Aristotle himself: "There is no great genius without a touch of madness."

4 stars

An intriguing look at the era. Picasso's celebrity in the early to mid 1920s will run side by side with so many other celebrities that this fictionalized story of his life adds to the fascination generated by the media of the day. With so much fame and fortune, his life would never be the sensation imagined by so many. A great look at another side of this famous artist.

4.25
Picasso’s Lovers, by Jeanne Mackin, is an engaging novel of romance and family drama, and a fascinating look at some of the relationships with women enjoyed by Pablo Picasso.
The story unfolds in two timelines: the present is 1953 in the US and France. Alternately much of the story occurs retrospectively in 1923, the post-Great War years, when glamorous celebrities, artists and writers frequented Paris and the French Riviera. In this novel they are characterized as not the “Lost Generation,” but the eager and energetic generation.
As the protagonist Alana, a writer for an art publication in 1953 New York City, looks for a creative story about Picasso, she stumbles onto a much more personal mystery, which held my full attention for the entire novel! Her investigation sets up the successful dual timelines that tell this rich story.
The writing is excellent—great descriptive prose that made the characters 3 dimensional and interesting, including some special back stories of celebs like Cole Porter, Irene Lagut, and Gerald and Sara Fitzgerald. It is clear that Ms. Mackin did extensive research and she eloquently describes the people and the times with accuracy and rich atmosphere.
The story arc is just perfect, and it is easy to become immersed in the lives of the famous in the 1920s, and the ordinary people, like Alana and Jack in the 1950s. It all comes together beautifully.
It was particularly satisfying to see Alana’s character grow and exhibit strength and wisdom while battling the stereotypes of women’s roles in that era. She felt “real” and representational of young adult women finding their voices.
I recommend this novel to readers interested in modern art, behind the scene looks at the personal lives of the artists, and the colorful era of extraordinary and gifted expats active in France between the WWI and WWII.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

I wasn’t too familiar with Picasso’s life before picking up this book, so I didn’t come in with preconceived notions. I’m glad that the book focused more on the women around him rather than him, as their lives, experiences and work were just as interesting as his if not more. This was an illuminating look at artists in Europe between the world wars. The plot was interesting and well-paced, though just a bit predictable (in an OK way!) I enjoyed the opportunity to learn about an era that gets less attention than some others.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Quick and Dirty
-historical fiction
-coming-of-age and self-discovery themes
-perfect for art history lovers
-door ajar romance

What Worked
I’m the daughter of an artist, so art history and art appreciation have always been a big part of my life. So digging into a character study of Picasso was very appealing to me, and I’m happy to say that the book did not disappoint on the artistic genius front. I enjoyed the way the author depicted the dichotomy of Picasso: literal genius + narcissistic lady’s man. This might not be appealing to everyone, but I felt it gave authenticity to the book that would have been missing had he been depicted any other way. For more on this, I recommend the Paris Review article “How Picasso Bled the Women in His Life for Art.” I felt more connected to Sarah as a main character, mostly because her inner dialogue seemed more engaging, but Alana’s story was intriguing. While the book is not overtly feminist, there were feminist threads that were tied up in the end which I found pleasing.

What Didn’t Work
Overall this worked well for me, as it upheld the truth about Picasso as a man while illustrating his allure to women. I personally would have been sucked into that orbit, no lie here. Where I felt it fell a little flat was the mirrored storyline of Alana and her mother. I don’t want to give anything away so I’ll keep it brief. History repeats itself in a way that I found a little disappointing.

Read This If
Folks who don’t mind infidelity, despicable men, and complex relationships will enjoy the drama of this book. Romance readers might be a bit disappointed as it’s fairly chaste, but I felt it had just the right amount of steam to keep the focus on the character study. If you love 1920-1930s art scenes in Europe, then you don’t want to miss this one!

Thanks to Berkley for the free copy of Picasso's Lovers by Jeanne Mackin which comes out today!

I adore this cover and I was looking forward to reading this historical fiction about Picasso. I've been a huge fan of his work since going to the Picasso Museum in Málaga and getting to see Guernica in person in Madrid.

I struggled with this book though - the dual timelines didn't work for me and I only wanted the 1920s Picasso storyline. I found this book to be very slow moving and didn't really care for the 1950s storyline. I appreciated that the author mentioned the real from fiction but this book was honestly too much of a fiction for me.

If you're a really big fan of Picasso you might enjoy this.

Picasso's Lovers follows Alana, a journalist in the 1950s, who is assigned to write an article on Pablo Picasso. While writing this article, she learns about the women in Picasso's life and how they influenced Alana's life more than she expected.

While it was slightly difficult getting into Picasso's Lovers at the beginning, the book quickly picked up speed and I couldn't put it down. The "surprises" were fairly predictable, but I enjoyed the story while getting there. This is a great novel for historic fiction fans and it was fascinating look at the women in Picasso's life.

Picasso’s Lovers by Jeanne Mackin was so interesting. I’ve never thought too much about Picasso before this book but that has definitely changed now. This is a really interesting look at how charismatic he was imagined to be. The author obviously did her research into this time period and everything felt authentic. I was also a fan of the dual timelines.

Alana Olsen, a journalist, is not anxious to be married to William. So, she pitches a story to her editor, an exclusive portrait of Picasso. Alana meets with Sara Murphy to interview her about Picasso, the artist and the ladies' man. Sara tells of the summer of 1923, when she and her husband, Gerald, vacationed with Picasso, his wife-Olga, and his mistress, Irène, as well as other artists.. A maid, Anna, cautioned Sara against becoming involved with Picasso. Anna Martina (Marti) became a designer, and is Alana's mother.
Hearing Sara tell the story causes Alana to dig much deeper into the life of Picasso, her own identity, and how it may be tied to him. Her research covers his multiple relationships with women, and what that means to her.
There is a lot of infidelity in this book. This is a study in the hold some people have over others when they are charismatic.
I knew a little about Picasso, but not as much as was revealed in this historical fiction novel.

I have never been a fan of Picasso's art, but it was fun to look up all of the paintings as they were mentioned in the book. The story is full of flawed characters, which made for an interesting read. I loved the 1923 flashbacks best and found Sara to be the character I sympathized with most. The little twist was super obvious if you were paying any attention. A solid historical fiction read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for access to this arc.

I LOVED at his use of history with politics of the McCarthy era and the scandal that was Picasso. I thought the storyline brilliant and engaging. I also appreciated the use of the different timelines and the POV of the storytellers.

4.5 stars

Picasso’s Lovers is a deftly crafted tale that explores ideas of how the past shapes us, even when we aren’t conscious of it. Author Jeanne Mackin weaves a tale that incorporates the life of prolific artist Pablo Picasso (and some of his cohorts) with the fictional character of Alana Olson and her mother, Anna.

I was immediately drawn into the story, and read it in one sitting. The world that Mackin paints feels true to her real-life subjects, but also creates a brilliant fictional tale that feels authentically interwoven into the past. I appreciated the themes that Mackin explores, and how she focuses on the female characters in her story. This story is truly about Picasso’s lovers, and the importance of their lives, and that felt especially poignant.

Overall, this is one of the best historical fiction books I’ve read in quite a while.

A sincere thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was thoroughly immersed into this book and was transported back to both the French Riviera of the 1920s and again in the 1950s. Art journalist, Alana Olson is assigned an article on the works of Picasso. As she delves into her research, it is the women who were his muses that intrigue her. As her professional and personal lives merge, Alana ends up with more questions than answers.
Mackin introduces you to Picasso as a man and through his works. As renowned for his works, he was also famous for his philandering and his brutal insensitivity to the women who loved him. And it is through their eyes, that this story unfolds. Also a reminder of the life as a woman during those time periods, despite their dreams and ambitions.
A historical fiction that masterfully intertwines reality with a story, that although fictional, there is no doubt it also could be someone’s truth. Despite being, what I’d classify as slow paced and character driven, there are still elements of mystery and suspense during both time periods.

I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this one not really knowing much about Picasso but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It was well researched and written. I always love to learn something with the historical fiction novels I choose and I definitely have a better knowledge of who Picasso was as a person and artist. The good and the bad.

We got to explore the life of Picasso through the eyes of the women who loved him...and there were many. He was a well-known womanizer, philanderer, and adulterer. The author points out that he is an artist we love to hate or hate to love. He was not only emotionally cruel but extremely insensitive.

The beginning was a little hard to get into but once the story picked up and the characters started to intertwine I was entranced. I loved how through Alana's assignment she was able to see Picasso for who he was and learn the qualities she wanted in a long and healthy relationship of her own.

Explore the world of Picasso through the eyes of the women that loved him. This novel explores a summer that Picasso spent at the beach of the French Riviera in 1923.

Alana grew up in New York City with her mother's fascination with Picasso and has a degree in art history. An assignment for an art publication leads her to interview Sara Murphy, an American that was part of Picasso's circle in 1923. What Alana discovers leads to more questions not just about Picasso but about everything Alana believed to be true. Now Alana has to figure out what to do with the information and how to create a life she wants.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

𝘼 𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙋𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙤’𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙤𝙧𝙗𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙡𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙩—𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙝.

I don’t usually read historical fiction that often, it’s usually hit or miss for me. However, this book sounded so interesting, so I made sure to pick it up from NetGalley.

The story focuses on the love interests in Picasso’s life (whether you like him or not, his life was interesting). It’s told in dual timelines, which I really enjoyed. I also really loved Alana’s character in this.

It did start off a bit slow and took me a while to get into. I had to put the book down every so often when it dragged. However, the characters were woven together nicely and it was a solid historical fiction story.

It’s a well-written story and super unique filled with family secrets, friendships, and guilt. It was interesting reading about these women.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!