Julia Bryan Thomas’s book The Kennedy Girl is a tale for all readers who love a bit of fashion with a flood of espionage and a sprinkling of romance. The beginning was a slow burn as the author set up the plot and backstories, but I got an interesting lesson in the Paris fashion industry circa the 1960s Cold War Camelot era.

Mia, an American girl who had lost her mother at a young age and had just lost her father, was working at a bakery in New York when a man approached her with a job offer to become a model for a major fashion house in Paris. The espionage didn’t enter the story until after pages of Mia’s backstory, which was interesting, but the premise of how she became a model had me struggling with realism. Little things piqued her curiosity, causing her to pause, like a missing glove, a roommate with no boundaries, and a misplaced pocket watch, but her naivete seemed almost too contrived for me to empathize with the character. But, by the ¼ mark of the story, I was so intrigued that I stayed up until 3 AM to finish it.

The slow introduction of characters helped with the plot and plot twists, and the settings depicted a fabulous portrayal of the era and the beauty and romanticism of Paris. Slowly but methodically, the author took me through a lounge-chair journey of the tourist traps of Paris and the daily lives and haunts of Parisians, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The plot and twists kept me intrigued.

I can’t say it’s an exceptional read, but it is a great read filled with espionage, fashion, and characters with personalities and missions that are sometimes hard to believe.

But something about the author’s effortless, breezy writing style kept me reading from beginning to end, despite how ridiculously naïve Mia appeared to be. Mia was a study in contrast, as I couldn’t visualize her beyond her anxiety at her predicament and her hero worship of Jackie Kennedy. I loved the characterization of the silent, mysterious neighbor lady. She piqued my interest from the very beginning. However, the fashion house characters seemed flat, although they added a hint of intrigue as the story developed.

Despite a few meandering plot twists that just popped in here and there, the premise of the story and the era pulled me in right away. I give this exciting novel four stars because I couldn’t put it down.

I want to thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read this ARC. My review is voluntary and mine alone.

I was instantly captivated by the story and it stayed that way until almost halfway. It started unraveling from there though. Overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley & Sourcebooks Landmark for sending this book for review consideration

Mia is really naive and a bit underdeveloped as a character. The plot didn’t flow for me. Mia annoyed me a bit with her innocence and the story was a bit slow for me but I did truly love the ending.

“The Kennedy Girl” is by Julia Bryan Thomas. This is a historical fiction book, set in the 1960s, when Jackie Kennedy was *the* woman all women wanted to emulate - from her voice to her fashion. The main character, Mia, recently lost her father and is “discovered” working at a bakery by an agent for a Paris fashion house and is given a job as a model. I found the parts discussing Paris to be very interesting (talk about armchair travel!), along with the discussions about fashion and dressmaking. That there is some cloak and dagger stuff I found a bit out there, but after a while it became a bit interesting, if a bit (at times) confusing with seemingly random characters introduced - along with their backstory. I cannot say that this was a great book as I found Mia a bit too naive and innocent, yet at the same time she gets “feelings” and does what seems appropriate in the different situations. I found some of this book a bit draggy (especially in the beginning - and with some of the subsequent backstories), but I think if you like cloak and dagger regarding the Cold War and fashion, this might be a book of interest for you.

Shortly after the passing of her father, Mia is approached by a mysterious man who gives her a plane ticket and offers her a job as a model in Paris. With nothing to lose, Mia ultimately decides to take a chance, however, she's not prepared for the secrets and the danger that await her.

I'm an absolute sucker for the setting, and Thomas did wonderfully with the Parisian imagery and descriptions. The deep dive into the fashion world was fun, and I loved the espionage angle. As a lover of historical fiction, I loved the fact that this story took place during the Cold War.

Mia was not my favorite as she seemed way too naive and trusting at some points but then also put way too much trust in people at others. It made me feel fairly frustrated with her throughout the book. The beginning of the story dragged a bit for me, but I pretty quickly flew through the ending, and Thomas did a great job of wrapping up the story.

Overall, if you're a historical fiction who loves 60s fashion, Paris, or espionage, this one might be for you.

I was excited to read this book because the premise sounded intriguing and because I had read and enjoyed For Those Who Are Lost by this author. In FTWAL, there were multiple points of view, and I cared about most of the characters. The one character in that novel who wasn't very likeable at least had an engrossing character arc. While The Kennedy Girl did have a few points of view from other characters, it mostly centered on Mia. I liked her. She began as naive but sweet, hard-working, and conscientious. She did change a lot during the course of the novel, but somehow I didn't feel as if I really got to see her changing. I saw the events that influenced her, but sometimes something would happen and then the novel would skip ahead a bit in time, not allowing me to see the process of her metamorphosis. The mystery seemed to wrap up a bit quickly. I was satisfied with the very end of the novel, though.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the early read.

Very good story. It was a little slow to start but the middle to end had me on the edge of my seat. I absolutely loved the ending. I am not normally a historical fiction reader but the Cold War aspects had me hooked. I love Mia as a character and she was portrayed wonderfully.

One can never go wrong when picking up a Julia Bryan Thomas book, so I knew I was in for a great read - but even I was blown away by how good this was! Unputdownable and lovely are the two words I would use to describe this!. Fantastic and utterly addictive would also suffice :) Either way, you are in for a treat!

After the death of her father, twenty-year-old Mia is approached by a stranger with an offer to go to Paris and be a model. Mia seizes on the chance to start her life over. Little does she know that behind the Parisian glamour a menace lurks.

What worked: Beautiful details of the 1961 Paris fashion world where evil hides. Mia is still hurting from the death of her only remaining family member so when a chance to go to Paris presents itself, she takes it. Mia at first comes across as too naive and impressionable but as a reader I bought it. Who wouldn't be swept away with being a model in Paris? Add the intrigue and espionage to the story during the height of the Cold War. I was hooked.

Philip's story is woven into this novel. I had a hard time engaging with him and thought he left Mia in a dangerous situation. There is a spark between them. Luca also seems a possible love interest, but the more readers find out about his part in the puzzle, the more mysterious he becomes.


Quick engaging historical thriller set in 1961 Paris.

This book is filled with beautiful Parisian images and a fun insider’s glimpse of the French fashion industry. Glamour and Cold War espionage form the basis of the story. My problem with the book is that the flow and story probability did not flow soundly. First it was hard to relate to a heroine that was so naive and thinking, yet the author tried to portray her as clever and smart. She isn’t supposed to trust anyone yet on a “feeling” she follows along with plans created by people she has no background knowledge or experience with to establish trust. The entire story including the ending had disconnects for me. I do want to thank Net Galley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and give a candid review of the book.

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.

She can’t be this naive? Can she? My thoughts as Mia flies off to Paris.
From a New York City bakeshop to a Paris Atelier, Kennedy Girl was a fascinating read, that hooked me till the very end! Filled with beautiful Parisian imagery, 1950s glam, and Cold War espionage, I couldn’t put it down. Very much recommended if you like your cloak and dagger dressed in diamonds.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed this book so much! As a lover of historical fiction, I’m always so intrigued with different storylines and perspectives of wartime in particular. I found the characters well developed and the story flowed nicely! Great read!

Do you love historical fiction? Do you love fashion and glamour? Yes, then The Kennedy Girl is the book for you.

I really enjoyed Thomas' last book -- unfortunately this book is so full of fashion and long descriptions of the way things look (Paris, the atelier, specific dresses) and I just don't enjoy that at all. Just not a domain I want to spend any time in. Gave up after 15%

Julian Bryan Thomas doesn’t lack attention to detail in this book. Her words put me right into paris during the cold war. I can feel the pressure building in the FMC and at times it feels like she’s going to break.I couldn’t finish this book fast enough.

Honestly I found this a bit boring and hard to get into but the book has no specific faults so I think it was just me. If you're interested in the Cold War, fashion and you like intrigue and spying then definitely check this out

Fashion, Paris, Cold War spying, and a young orphaned woman caught in the middle. This intriguing tale set in the City of Light grabbed me from the start and wouldn't let me go! Recommended.