It's the 1960s, and the fashion culture of New York, Paris, and Milan is starting to make an impression on the mid-century American woman. Jackie Kennedy's effortless style leads the nation, although Mia's bustling bakery job doesn't often give her the time or money to craft a stylish closet after her idol in the White House. But when a mysterious stranger suddenly offers her a modeling job in Paris at the esteemed House of Rousseau, she takes a chance on it, despite knowing nothing about the world of fashion. As an orphan with big dreams, holding a one-way plane ticket to Paris, she sets off for what she hopes is a better life.

But the job of a model runs deeper than photoshoots and runway walks, and as Mia adjusts to the Parisienne lifestyle, she realizes that not everything is as it seems. Becoming more and more successful in her position as an up-and-coming model, she is soon drawn into the Cold War by the very fashion house she works for. And as she finds herself falling further into national crimes and politics, Mia will soon have to decide which side of history she's really on.

Jackie Kennedy is no longer the only woman for whom fashion and politics dramatically collide...

The Kennedy Girl is an immersive and heart-pounding story perfect for history buffs and armchair travelers alike, with glimpses into both the propulsive Cold War era of espionage and the inner-workings of the most prestigious Parisian fashion houses.

Loved it from start to finish

I received an ARC from NetGalley. Following is my honest review.

In The Kennedy Girl, Juila Bryan Thomas, Mia becomes swept away into the glamorous life of a model for House of Rousseau fashion powerhouse in Paris, France. With literally nothing left to lose at home in the United States, Mia takes a risk and joins other models in Paris in the 1960s, when Jackie Kennedy represented the epitome of class, grace, elegance, and style. Mia quickly fits in but discovers that things are not as black-and-white as she thought they were. Of course, there would be a catch.

Mia becomes embroiled in Cold War secrets, politics and intrigue as her success as a model increases, and she has to find a way out. And even more terrifying is that she knows at least one of her roommates-now-friends is a spy, but which one? Who can she trust in a city where she has no one unquestionably on her side?

The twists and turns in this historical novel are fun and intriguing, reminding readers that if it's too good to be true, it probably really is. Mia learns too late that she should have run the other way when she was approached with this too-good-to-be-true offer.

I really enjoyed the narrative descriptions of Paris, especially because, though I have not yet viisted Paris, I have been to France fairly recently, which helped me really feel the city as Mia felt it. This book will appeal to those who like mysteries, appreciate orphan stories, and enjoy a woman figuring out her next move in a sticky situation.

The Kennedy Girl is a story of espionage, set in Paris fashion world of 1960-61. An American orphan from New York, whose idol is the first lady Jacky O Kennedy, is recruited as a model for a Paris fashion house. Mia Walker, recently lost her father and has no ties remaining in NY, with no better options she decides to head to Paris.

Once in Paris she is enchanted and along the way is recruited by CIA and then on her life is a mix of high fashion and parties and dealing with secrets. In the world of high stakes she keeps her hope for a better life and love away from the spy world.

I enjoyed the whole espionage aspect as it was subtle and not too dangerous other than it's very nature for the story. The ending was dreamy and the Paris of fashion and secrets made for a wonderful read. I loved how the spy work was conducted old school without any social media interference.

Overall the concept was good and the story line interesting but I fel the plot was disjointed and hard to follow .
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

A historical fiction story set in the beautiful city of Paris! It's full of stars shining fashion and can you believe it espionage. While it started out rather slow paced for me and I was unsure where the story was headed I got a bit confused. By the middle of the book the pace picks up speed and it all made sense allowing me to relax and enjoy the rest of the ride. It's a decent book for historical fiction and fashion lovers but personally I enjoyed the espionage and danger feeling the most!

For those who love Paris, fashion and a dash of espionage, The Kennedy Girl mixes the three together in spades. Mia Walker is approached working her job at a bakery in New York City when she’s approached with an opportunity for a modeling career in Paris. With her father recently passed away, tight funds, and the opportunity for an adventure, she decides to go. The fashion element of the book is the high point, exploring couture in the sixties. The descriptions of Paris follows, giving the readers a peek at both the sites and people of the City of Light. Character development and the espionage elements are weaker. The reader gets to know a little about Mia as a character, but they really learn more about her by how others assess her. The espionage portion probably has some grounds in reality but manages to be both dull and a little confusing on how the people are interconnected. There are points, one in particular, where Mia’s naïveté is unbelievable. She may be twenty years old in this book, but at least one thing she does before becoming more world wise is unbelievably stupid. A fun story with an interesting setting, but I could see the book being even better with more character and plot development. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book had all the ingredients for something I would enjoy, but ultimately, it didn’t quite deliver. The story kicks off with Mia, a naive young woman who’s given the chance to model for a fashion house in Paris. Through Mia’s eyes, we explore the city, her new job, and the people in her life, slowly unveiling the fact that not everything is as it seems. While I appreciated the slow build that gave us time to get to know the characters and set the stage for potential drama, the pacing felt sluggish at times. It took far too long for the story to pick up, and by the time things finally started to unfold, the ending felt rushed and abrupt.⁠
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Additionally, Mia’s actions toward the end were hard to believe, especially considering how little she knew about what she was really involved in. While it makes sense that she would be kept in the dark about certain things, the fact that she “worked” for the US government without ever learning which agency she was working for felt completely unrealistic. Even after everything came to a head and the dust settled, she never uncovered any details about her mysterious job, which I found unbelievable and perhaps a bit insulting that a woman who proved her resilience would be happy to be kept in the dark.⁠
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In the end, while the book was entertaining enough to hold my interest, it ultimately didn’t live up to its potential.

Set in 1960s NYC and Paris, The Kennedy Girl follows Mia Walker, who is discovered to model in France while working in a bakery in New York City. What follows is a whirlwind of learning how to model and who she is. Oh, and also learning that her modeling agency is a front for a group called the Alliance that is passing international nuclear secrets.

I found this book to have an interesting premise: a young and naive girl is whisked into the world of Paris fashion with a sprinkle of espionage. The "whodunnit" piece made for a lovely romp and the characters were developed enough to make me invested in them.

I will be honest, it did feel disjointed and at parts throughout the book, the narrative felt choppy. It was like the author knew what they wanted to say....but didn't know how to say it....so they just pieced....things....together. The storyline got a little far-fetched and it lost some of the polish that was needed to keep everything believable.

Overall, a book worth the read, and everything sweeps back around to a satisfying ending. Just a bit clunky in parts.

The Kennedy Girl
Author: Julia Bryan Thomas
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The author’s tone and writing style really drew me in and made me feel like I could picture what was going on. There was a lot of pressure building and the tension for Mia had me on the edge of my seat for much of the book. If you like cloak and dagger, mystery and espionage - this book is for you.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebook Landmark for the gifted ARC; these are my honest opinions and statements

Set against the backdrop of the fashion world in the 1960s, this historical fiction offers intrigue and suspense. Mia unexpectedly gets a chance to become a model in Paris. With nothing to lose, she leaves America and heads to the House of Rousseau. However, she soon finds herself tangled in a plot to share US secrets with the Russians, and her attempts to escape only pull her deeper into the conspiracy.

I enjoyed the pacing, which gradually delves into the characters and the situation. When the plot picked up I was invested in Mia and the mystery of who to trust. I particularly liked the author's writing style and voice, which added a romantic feel to Mia's daily life that was lovely to read. The twist and turns kept me invested all the way through.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and or the author for giving me a chance to read The Kennedy Girl.

It was an interesting story but I was confused most of the time while I read it.

The book has a great plot, characters, etc.

1960's Paris and fashion, who could resist? One day Mia is in New York working at a bakery and the next thing you know she is offered an airplane ticket to Paris and model at a fashion house! Out of the blue!!! Not all is what it seems and Mia gets caught up in the Cold War...espionage, cloak and dagger. For me it brought back memories of my visit to Paris...without the added element. I found the protagonist a bit naive, but then she was only 20 years old (although today's 20 year old girls are a lot more "with it" and not quite so trusting). The book was interesting as we read on and watch how Mia gets involved. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebook Landmark for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Mia Walker is recruited to go to Paris and work for the House of Rousseau as a model. At first, she is really excited to be a part of this world. Then she gets a bad feeling about the people around her. She soon realizes she is involved in the world of spies and espionage of the 1960's. Even though she is involved against her will, she can't get out of it.
I thought Mia was a little naive. Who would go to Paris after meeting a stranger offering a modeling job? Maybe it was the time. This story was told during the Cold War of the 1960's. Maybe it was just her naivety. Either way, she became more confident and was able to handle her life. The story became better as I read more, with several twists and turns. I recommend if you like books about fashion and the 1960's.

Very interesting premise with the beauty of Paris!

The Kennedy Girl is set in the 1960’s Cold War Era following Mia Walker who has just been hired out the blue to model for a fashion house in Paris. A girls dream, right? Or is it not all as it seems and who can Mia trust in a foreign country?

This book is definitely a slow burn but I appreciated that because we are able to get to know the characters and understand the set up. I don’t want to give much away but it definitely picks up and things start happening and you’re not sure who to trust. I enjoyed the ending and I overall liked it, it just left me wanting a little something more.

Definitely check this one out if you are looking for historical fiction, espionage, fashion and Paris!

3.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Julia Bryan Thomas for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

1960. New York, Amelia Walker works in a bakery, one day a new customer Theo Gillette offers her a job in Paris and as a model. Mia father has just passed away and her mother died when she was eleven, she considers cashing in the plane ticket and Mia has no ties and changes her mind and travels to France. Mia has always admired Jacqueline Kennedy, she been told she resembles the first lady, and she lived in Paris for a year and Mia feels like she's walking the same path as her idol.

Mia is to be a model for the House of Rousseau, she shares a flat with two other girls Maeve and Elisabeth and she meets an older lady Madame Fournier who lives in the same block of apartments. After a quick course in deportment and learning some basic French phrases Mia is shown around the House of Rousseau and measured. Mia struts the runways and sometimes goes to elite parties, to show off the haute couture gowns and it’s part of her job.

A naive Mia strolls the streets of Paris and has no idea she’s being followed and why. The French and American governments are worried about nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands, and people working at the fashion house could be involved, and Mia’s not sure she who can trust. Looking back she did notice when she first moved into the apartment, Mia couldn’t find her father’s pocket watch and her room must have been searched and her belongings tampered with and she was careful where she kept it afterwards?

Mia is thrown into a world full of fashion and beautiful gowns, glamour and diamonds, spies and secret agents, espionage and she fears for her safety and life and is caught up in a game of cat and mouse.

I received a copy of The Kennedy Girl by Julia Bryan Thomas from Sourcebooks and in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. At times I had no idea if the author had an obvious direction for her narrative, it seemed a bit farfetched and wondered if I had missed something. I’m pleased to say the pace of the story did pick up and made sense and while it wasn’t quite as good as The Radcliffe Ladies’ Reading Club. The 1960’s was a different time and era and girls did spontaneous things and I suggest reading this one for yourself and making up your own mind and four stars from me.

I think the story is interesting. Cold War Era, Fashion in Paris and spies who never know what side you're on.

There are a lot of intriguing parts to this story, but I do think they take a bit to develop. I also think sometimes with the characters, never knowing who is really a good guy can be a bit taxing. At one point, I questioned every character and their loyalty!

I did like the progression of Mia and how she truly found herself. She had to in order to survive. I think she became strong even while people underestimated her. I liked the twists and turns with the her and the story and the author's writing. It kept me in the story.

I also liked the ending and felt like it wrapped up the one relationship I really rooted for. I think a lot of readers will enjoy this book!

Thanks to AAknopf and NetGalley for the eArc!

This author is brilliant with descriptions of Paris and the fashion world. It gave a real sense of the place and time.

1960 and Mia has been “discovered” working in a bakery and is headed to the bright lights of the Paris fashion world.

Mia is a delightful character. Naive, but her story grows as she does.

Throw in a spy mystery and I was hooked.

I enjoyed this one!


NetGalley/ Sourcebooks Landmark January 14, 2025

I've recently started reading and enjoying women's fiction and this was perfect for that! This was everything I was wanting in a book right now!

Spying, fashion, Paris, and so much more! The characters slowly get introduced throughout the book which I think helps a lot with understanding and seeing their dynamics!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.