The Kennedy Girl, by Julia Bryan Thomas, is not about Jackie Kennedy as I had originally thought, though she does act as a sort of role model for our protagonist, Mia. Narrator Ri Paige brought Mia to life perfectly in the audiobook as she explores Paris and discovers why she was really offered this out-of-the-blue opportunity. Love the 1960s/Cold War era and found Thomas's novel to be a wonderful blend of history and imagination. Highly recommend!

Julia Bryan Thomas delivers a captivating blend of glamour and intrigue in The Kennedy Girl, a perfect historical fiction that swept me away. Set in 1960, the novel masterfully moves between the dazzling world of Parisian fashion runways and the shadowy undercurrents of Cold War espionage.

The story follows a compelling main character—an American orphan who rises to prominence as a Paris fashion model—through the breathtaking beauty of France. Every detail of her journey is filled with clandestine danger and intrigue, creating a tense and engaging atmosphere. The author’s vivid descriptions and rich characters brought the pages to life, making me feel as if I were right there in the heart of it all.

I couldn’t stop rooting for the heroine, and the story kept me fully invested from start to finish. The audiobook narration by Ri Paige was superb, enhancing the experience with her dynamic and expressive performance. If you love historical fiction with a perfect mix of espionage, fashion, and a touch of glamour, The Kennedy Girl is a must-read!

'The Kennedy Girl' is a thrilling and glamorous novel that gave me insight to the Cold War through the eyes of a naïve American model. At nineteen, Mia seized the chance of a lifetime to join a prestigious Parisian fashion house. Unwittingly, she was drawn into the gripping world of espionage, where danger lurked around every corner. I would have loved to see more complexity in the political intrigue, richer relationships for Mia to navigate, or a deeper exploration of Mia's character development to elevate this book to a five-star read. The story also occasionally followed a male government agent and elderly French woman.

If you enjoy reading women's historical fiction, then I recommend this book to you! Julia Bryan Thomas' writing flows nicely and Ri Paige's narration captures the suspense well. Special thanks to RBmedia and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.