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A Kennedy Affair
When Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy left London four years ago, Europe was facing war and Billy Cavendish, the man she loved, had told her he could never marry her. Now, as London stands a shell of its former self, Kick returns to volunteer with the Red Cross, determined to do what she can for the city that holds a part of her heart, and to reconnect with Billy - despite what London society thinks of her.
For Lady Brigid Guinness, life is unrecognisable. She has swapped dinner parties, social engagements and high fashion for long shifts as a nurse helping wounded soldiers. And the only person she can really talk to is a man shunned by her inner circle.
When Sissy, a young Irish girl, arrives from Wicklow under the care of the Guinness family, she brings her own secrets and all three women begin to realise that in a time of war, friendship might be the only thing they can rely on.
A Kennedy Affair is a story of forbidden love, family discord, and how in the worst of times, we can discover the best of ourselves, and each other.
For Lady Brigid Guinness, life is unrecognisable. She has swapped dinner parties, social engagements and high fashion for long shifts as a nurse helping wounded soldiers. And the only person she can really talk to is a man shunned by her inner circle.
When Sissy, a young Irish girl, arrives from Wicklow under the care of the Guinness family, she brings her own secrets and all three women begin to realise that in a time of war, friendship might be the only thing they can rely on.
A Kennedy Affair is a story of forbidden love, family discord, and how in the worst of times, we can discover the best of ourselves, and each other.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
480 pages, Paperback
Published October 17, 2024
43 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
About the author
Emily Hourican
15 books89 followersEmily Hourican is a journalist and author. She has written features for the Sunday Independent for fifteen years, as well as Image magazine, Condé Nast Traveler and Woman and Home. She was also editor of The Dubliner Magazine.
Emily's first book, a memoir titled How To (Really) Be A Mother was published in 2013. She is also the author of novels The Privileged, White Villa, The Outsider and The Blamed, as well as two bestselling novels about the Guinness sisters: The Glorious Guinness Girls and The Guinness Girls: A Hint of Scandal.
She lives in Dublin with her family.
source: Amazon
Emily's first book, a memoir titled How To (Really) Be A Mother was published in 2013. She is also the author of novels The Privileged, White Villa, The Outsider and The Blamed, as well as two bestselling novels about the Guinness sisters: The Glorious Guinness Girls and The Guinness Girls: A Hint of Scandal.
She lives in Dublin with her family.
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 25, 2025
I will admit that this is my first time reading any fictional novel about the Kennedy's however I am glad that I took the opportunity to do so because I was very impressed with this novel. I have always been fascinated by Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy. I always felt like that if her life hadn't been cut so short she could have accomplished so many great things.
Now in this book we have Kathleen whi is returning to England ( I haven't read the first book so please forgive me) and we are introduced to all her friends who by the way are very interesting characters. Billy Cavendish who is Kick's love interest is a very charming fellow despite the fact that Mr and Mrs Kennedy don't approve of the fact that he isn't a catholic.
The fact that a war was going on makes all the details of this real life story very upsetting but when you think about it the Kennedy's had a very tragic life history. However despite that I really enjoyed reading this book because there is so much history behind it. I may have to look into reading more historical fiction about the Kennedy's in the future.
I recieved an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.
Now in this book we have Kathleen whi is returning to England ( I haven't read the first book so please forgive me) and we are introduced to all her friends who by the way are very interesting characters. Billy Cavendish who is Kick's love interest is a very charming fellow despite the fact that Mr and Mrs Kennedy don't approve of the fact that he isn't a catholic.
The fact that a war was going on makes all the details of this real life story very upsetting but when you think about it the Kennedy's had a very tragic life history. However despite that I really enjoyed reading this book because there is so much history behind it. I may have to look into reading more historical fiction about the Kennedy's in the future.
I recieved an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.
October 17, 2024
A Kennedy Affair by Emily Hourican publishes today October 17th with Hachette Books Ireland. It is a tale inspired by real events and is described as ‘a powerful story of friendship, forbidden passion – and how in the worst of times we can discover the best of each other.’ I thoroughly enjoyed An Invitation to the Kennedys last year and loved how the series continues with the exploration of the bond between the Kennedy and Guinness families. Over the years I have read and reviewed Emily Hourican’s Guinness Girls series – The Glorious Guinness Girls, The Guinness Girls: A Hint of Scandal and The Other Guinness Girl: A Question of Honor, so it is an absolute delight to return to their world and see what they have been up to and how their relationship with the Kennedys has further developed.
It’s now 1941 and the war is in full swing, bringing death and destruction to many. Kathleen ‘Kick’ Kennedy is the much lauded daughter of Joseph and Rose Kennedy. On a previous trip to London in 1938, when her father was the United States Ambassador to the UK, Kick was exposed to English society, a world she found quite different from her years in Hyannis Port, Cape Cod. Kick was a sporty vivacious young woman, quite an eccentricity among her English peers but overtime she made friends, crossing paths with many notable names of the time, including the Mitfords and the Guinness girls.
During that time Kick developed a relationship with Billy Cavendish, future Duke of Devonshire. With his heritage and Anglican beliefs clashing with Kick’s Catholicism and Irish ancestry, there was always going to be a difficulty with either of their families agreeing to a possible marriage. After Kick returned to Cape Cod, following her father’s exit from London, their letter writing dried up, but now Kick is full of anticipation and hope. She has managed to persuade her parents to let her return to London with the American Red Cross as one of the Donut Dollies, girls who volunteered to raise the spirits of the American GIs while away from home soil. While Kick intends doing her bit for the war-effort, she is also secretly hoping to cross paths with Billy.
Lady Brigid Guinness now works as a nurse tending to the wounded and infirmed. Her day is spent indoors working long shifts and bringing comfort where she can. In the evenings she mixes with friends, both new and old, but Brigid is starting to feel disillusioned. She is finding it difficult to balance her work life with her personal life. Without the familiar guidance of adults, she steps up and begins to forage her own path, which takes her on an unexpected voyage of self-discovery and hope for a future that she could never have imagined.
Sissy Maddington arrives fresh from Ireland, doe-eyed and totally inexperienced. Her whole life had been in an old country estate with a fractured parental relationship. Now, under the care of the Guinness family, she is free to explore and develop into the young woman of the world that she aspires to. But Sissy’s naivety could potentially be to her detriment when those around her become consumed with their own problems and the trajectory of the war, leaving Sissy exposed.
Emily Hourican immerses the reader into the lives of these three young women as they face the realisation that the world, as they have known it, is on the cusp of huge change, both culturally and socially. The days of the big houses with lots of servants is waning, women’s independence is being tested and the boundaries of class are being blurred. As the lives of the Kennedy and the Guinness family are rocked by tragedy and disarray, the slow collapse of everything they hold dear is evident. Through their trials and tribulations, we see behind the glitz as the curtains start to fall. Although intertwined with fictional characters, much of what plays out in this book, and all the books in this series, is fact. Emily Hourican mentions in the Afterword that the ending had to be true to the story, which gives the novel an authentic touch.
A Kennedy Affair is another sweeping tale that captures the zeitgeist of the time. It delves into the complexities of society during those frenetic war years, exploring the power of the human connection. A vibrant and captivating novel, with a notably darker edge, that draws the reader in, A Kennedy Affair is a wonderful addition to this continuously scintillating series.
It’s now 1941 and the war is in full swing, bringing death and destruction to many. Kathleen ‘Kick’ Kennedy is the much lauded daughter of Joseph and Rose Kennedy. On a previous trip to London in 1938, when her father was the United States Ambassador to the UK, Kick was exposed to English society, a world she found quite different from her years in Hyannis Port, Cape Cod. Kick was a sporty vivacious young woman, quite an eccentricity among her English peers but overtime she made friends, crossing paths with many notable names of the time, including the Mitfords and the Guinness girls.
During that time Kick developed a relationship with Billy Cavendish, future Duke of Devonshire. With his heritage and Anglican beliefs clashing with Kick’s Catholicism and Irish ancestry, there was always going to be a difficulty with either of their families agreeing to a possible marriage. After Kick returned to Cape Cod, following her father’s exit from London, their letter writing dried up, but now Kick is full of anticipation and hope. She has managed to persuade her parents to let her return to London with the American Red Cross as one of the Donut Dollies, girls who volunteered to raise the spirits of the American GIs while away from home soil. While Kick intends doing her bit for the war-effort, she is also secretly hoping to cross paths with Billy.
Lady Brigid Guinness now works as a nurse tending to the wounded and infirmed. Her day is spent indoors working long shifts and bringing comfort where she can. In the evenings she mixes with friends, both new and old, but Brigid is starting to feel disillusioned. She is finding it difficult to balance her work life with her personal life. Without the familiar guidance of adults, she steps up and begins to forage her own path, which takes her on an unexpected voyage of self-discovery and hope for a future that she could never have imagined.
Sissy Maddington arrives fresh from Ireland, doe-eyed and totally inexperienced. Her whole life had been in an old country estate with a fractured parental relationship. Now, under the care of the Guinness family, she is free to explore and develop into the young woman of the world that she aspires to. But Sissy’s naivety could potentially be to her detriment when those around her become consumed with their own problems and the trajectory of the war, leaving Sissy exposed.
Emily Hourican immerses the reader into the lives of these three young women as they face the realisation that the world, as they have known it, is on the cusp of huge change, both culturally and socially. The days of the big houses with lots of servants is waning, women’s independence is being tested and the boundaries of class are being blurred. As the lives of the Kennedy and the Guinness family are rocked by tragedy and disarray, the slow collapse of everything they hold dear is evident. Through their trials and tribulations, we see behind the glitz as the curtains start to fall. Although intertwined with fictional characters, much of what plays out in this book, and all the books in this series, is fact. Emily Hourican mentions in the Afterword that the ending had to be true to the story, which gives the novel an authentic touch.
A Kennedy Affair is another sweeping tale that captures the zeitgeist of the time. It delves into the complexities of society during those frenetic war years, exploring the power of the human connection. A vibrant and captivating novel, with a notably darker edge, that draws the reader in, A Kennedy Affair is a wonderful addition to this continuously scintillating series.
October 19, 2024
What a gorgeous book! I struggled to put it down.
Set around a compelling (true life) love story, Hourican paints a vibrant portrait of life in London during the second world war. I found myself rooting for the different women and the very different challenges they faced.
As it’s based on a true life story I knew how it had to end for the main characters (SPOILER ALERT) …. But that didn’t stop me being heartbroken and devastated.
I have loved Hourican’s other books in the series … this is possibly her best yet!!!
Set around a compelling (true life) love story, Hourican paints a vibrant portrait of life in London during the second world war. I found myself rooting for the different women and the very different challenges they faced.
As it’s based on a true life story I knew how it had to end for the main characters (SPOILER ALERT) …. But that didn’t stop me being heartbroken and devastated.
I have loved Hourican’s other books in the series … this is possibly her best yet!!!
July 7, 2025
ARC Review – 5⭐️
Summary:
Set in 1943 London, A Kennedy Affair follows Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy and Lady Brigid Guinness as they navigate love, duty, and identity against the backdrop of WWII. Kick, daughter of the famed Kennedy clan, returns to England to volunteer in the war effort—and perhaps reconnect with her first love, William “Billy” Cavendish, the future Duke of Devonshire. But their rekindled bond is complicated by deep-rooted religious divides. Meanwhile, Brigid, disillusioned with the aristocracy, finds meaning in nursing wounded soldiers while secretly corresponding with the exiled Prince of Prussia—now living under a false name as a humble English farmer.
Review:
This novel reminded me of The Women by Kristin Hannah in the best way—a powerful portrait of women during wartime, the men they love, and how history reshapes their lives in real time. The writing feels like a snapshot of a moment in history, deeply atmospheric and richly layered with emotion.
I went into this knowing nothing about Kick Kennedy, and came out spellbound by her quiet courage, inner conflict, and resilience. The author gives her—and Brigid—such graceful, three-dimensional depth. These aren’t just historical figures dressed up for fiction; they’re vivid, breathing women you root for.
The characters are superbly developed, and even the supporting cast feels real and essential. The romantic relationships are emotional and complex, but never overshadow the personal growth and stakes of war and identity.
This book can absolutely stand alone, but I’m planning to go back and read the first in the series because I fell hard for these characters and the world they inhabit.
Bottom line: A moving, immersive read that blends historical detail with emotional authenticity. Fans of The Paris Library, The Women, or The Alice Network will find much to love here. Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mobius Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Set in 1943 London, A Kennedy Affair follows Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy and Lady Brigid Guinness as they navigate love, duty, and identity against the backdrop of WWII. Kick, daughter of the famed Kennedy clan, returns to England to volunteer in the war effort—and perhaps reconnect with her first love, William “Billy” Cavendish, the future Duke of Devonshire. But their rekindled bond is complicated by deep-rooted religious divides. Meanwhile, Brigid, disillusioned with the aristocracy, finds meaning in nursing wounded soldiers while secretly corresponding with the exiled Prince of Prussia—now living under a false name as a humble English farmer.
Review:
This novel reminded me of The Women by Kristin Hannah in the best way—a powerful portrait of women during wartime, the men they love, and how history reshapes their lives in real time. The writing feels like a snapshot of a moment in history, deeply atmospheric and richly layered with emotion.
I went into this knowing nothing about Kick Kennedy, and came out spellbound by her quiet courage, inner conflict, and resilience. The author gives her—and Brigid—such graceful, three-dimensional depth. These aren’t just historical figures dressed up for fiction; they’re vivid, breathing women you root for.
The characters are superbly developed, and even the supporting cast feels real and essential. The romantic relationships are emotional and complex, but never overshadow the personal growth and stakes of war and identity.
This book can absolutely stand alone, but I’m planning to go back and read the first in the series because I fell hard for these characters and the world they inhabit.
Bottom line: A moving, immersive read that blends historical detail with emotional authenticity. Fans of The Paris Library, The Women, or The Alice Network will find much to love here. Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mobius Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Books Ireland for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There’s nothing better to me when reading historical fiction than if the story is about real-life people. An author’s imagination can prompt me to look up a person featured in these novels and read nonfiction books about the subject. In this case, I already knew a substantial amount about Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, John F. Kennedy’s sister. From all accounts, she was a vivacious, strong-willed, and devout woman. And therein lay the problem.
Kick had fallen in love with Billy Hartington, the future Duke of Devonshire, who was a devout Anglican. Both families are appalled that the two were getting serious because neither was willing to give up their religion. It seems like the parents were more worried about the matter than Kick and Billy.
I do appreciate the author sharing Kick’s work as a Red Cross nurse during WWII, as many women did to aid the war effort. Several other women are also profiled in the book as well; they come from different backgrounds and socioeconomic classes, and they all circle around Kick’s orbit.
I also appreciated the fact that Kathleen researched lobotomies when she worked at a newspaper in Washington, D.C. Her father wanted to know more about it because of Kick’s older sister, Rosemary, who was developmentally disabled and was acting out more and more. Kathleen told her dad that all the research pointed to a lobotomy being a big mistake. But Joe Kennedy went ahead, and Rosie’s procedure went horribly wrong. Joe had her shipped away and never mentioned his daughter again.
I’m not going to reveal the ending of the book if you are unfamiliar with Kick’s story. Suffice it to say that this historical fiction story about one of the forgotten Kennedys was well done and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the Kennedys or just want a good WWII fiction story.
There’s nothing better to me when reading historical fiction than if the story is about real-life people. An author’s imagination can prompt me to look up a person featured in these novels and read nonfiction books about the subject. In this case, I already knew a substantial amount about Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, John F. Kennedy’s sister. From all accounts, she was a vivacious, strong-willed, and devout woman. And therein lay the problem.
Kick had fallen in love with Billy Hartington, the future Duke of Devonshire, who was a devout Anglican. Both families are appalled that the two were getting serious because neither was willing to give up their religion. It seems like the parents were more worried about the matter than Kick and Billy.
I do appreciate the author sharing Kick’s work as a Red Cross nurse during WWII, as many women did to aid the war effort. Several other women are also profiled in the book as well; they come from different backgrounds and socioeconomic classes, and they all circle around Kick’s orbit.
I also appreciated the fact that Kathleen researched lobotomies when she worked at a newspaper in Washington, D.C. Her father wanted to know more about it because of Kick’s older sister, Rosemary, who was developmentally disabled and was acting out more and more. Kathleen told her dad that all the research pointed to a lobotomy being a big mistake. But Joe Kennedy went ahead, and Rosie’s procedure went horribly wrong. Joe had her shipped away and never mentioned his daughter again.
I’m not going to reveal the ending of the book if you are unfamiliar with Kick’s story. Suffice it to say that this historical fiction story about one of the forgotten Kennedys was well done and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the Kennedys or just want a good WWII fiction story.
July 9, 2025
A story about the female Kennedys!
Thanks to NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
While this story has a large cast of characters, to me the most compelling chapters were of Kick Kennedy - or the second oldest female of the famous Kennedy family of Massachusetts - you may have heard of them as Kick (Kathleen)'s had this brother who you may know as JFK. I grew up in MA and we had John F's bust on our mantle. Everyone has a Kennedy story whether they knew-someone-who-knew-someone or they attended some party where one was there. So I was already drawn in.
Be careful googling - as there is a new generation of Kennedys doing all of the Kennedy things and one has the nickname Kick.
Now to the book. If you like stories about famous or from well-to-do family women talking about their beaus and their family troubles and their parties and adventures, then this book is for you. Its really not my gig, but again back to the Kennedy's. There was nothing I didn't really not know about already, but to me I enjoyed hearing about Kick's relationship with her brother Joe, her parents, and especially her sister Rosemary who was a tragedy. "Kennedy Curse?" This book makes a case for it.
3*
Thanks to NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
While this story has a large cast of characters, to me the most compelling chapters were of Kick Kennedy - or the second oldest female of the famous Kennedy family of Massachusetts - you may have heard of them as Kick (Kathleen)'s had this brother who you may know as JFK. I grew up in MA and we had John F's bust on our mantle. Everyone has a Kennedy story whether they knew-someone-who-knew-someone or they attended some party where one was there. So I was already drawn in.
Be careful googling - as there is a new generation of Kennedys doing all of the Kennedy things and one has the nickname Kick.
Now to the book. If you like stories about famous or from well-to-do family women talking about their beaus and their family troubles and their parties and adventures, then this book is for you. Its really not my gig, but again back to the Kennedy's. There was nothing I didn't really not know about already, but to me I enjoyed hearing about Kick's relationship with her brother Joe, her parents, and especially her sister Rosemary who was a tragedy. "Kennedy Curse?" This book makes a case for it.
3*
July 15, 2025
✨ What a beautifully layered read! A Kennedy Affair swept me straight into 1940s London — the fog, the heartbreak, the stolen moments of hope. 🇬🇧💔
💌 Kick’s longing for Billy felt so tender yet tragic — the way their love struggles against family duty and war made my heart ache. 🕊️❤️
🩺 Lady Brigid was a quiet star for me — trading glamour for grit, tending to soldiers by day and pouring her heart into forbidden letters by night. So brave and raw. 🌙✍️
🌆 And Sissy! Her wide-eyed wonder and yearning for more than what Ireland offered gave the story a spark of youthful hope and defiance. 🍀✨
📚 Overall, I loved how Hourican wove real history with vivid emotion — London felt alive, battered yet burning with possibility. The friendship between these three women made it all the more powerful.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A gorgeous, bittersweet slice of wartime romance and resilience. Thank you for this gem, Emily Hourican! 💫
💌 Kick’s longing for Billy felt so tender yet tragic — the way their love struggles against family duty and war made my heart ache. 🕊️❤️
🩺 Lady Brigid was a quiet star for me — trading glamour for grit, tending to soldiers by day and pouring her heart into forbidden letters by night. So brave and raw. 🌙✍️
🌆 And Sissy! Her wide-eyed wonder and yearning for more than what Ireland offered gave the story a spark of youthful hope and defiance. 🍀✨
📚 Overall, I loved how Hourican wove real history with vivid emotion — London felt alive, battered yet burning with possibility. The friendship between these three women made it all the more powerful.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A gorgeous, bittersweet slice of wartime romance and resilience. Thank you for this gem, Emily Hourican! 💫
July 23, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book told the story of Kathleen Kennedy's time overseas volunteering for the Red Cross during WWII. The other main character who is a true historical figure was Brigid Guiness. Both of these women wanted to stand on their own and not be burdened by their families' influence. Kathleen went by "Kick," and the troubles she faced related to her siblings and the love of her life whose family did not approve of his relationship with a Catholic. There was a lot of description about how Kick's family believed as Catholics did then that it was a mortal sin to marry outside the religion. Honestly, I thought the book was a little tedious in the middle, but the author brought all of the story lines together in the end, and I learned quite a bit about these families that I had forgotten over time.
This book told the story of Kathleen Kennedy's time overseas volunteering for the Red Cross during WWII. The other main character who is a true historical figure was Brigid Guiness. Both of these women wanted to stand on their own and not be burdened by their families' influence. Kathleen went by "Kick," and the troubles she faced related to her siblings and the love of her life whose family did not approve of his relationship with a Catholic. There was a lot of description about how Kick's family believed as Catholics did then that it was a mortal sin to marry outside the religion. Honestly, I thought the book was a little tedious in the middle, but the author brought all of the story lines together in the end, and I learned quite a bit about these families that I had forgotten over time.
August 19, 2025
4.5 Stars for me! Thank you to Mobius Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
I am a huge fan of the Kennedy family but this is the first time I've read a fiction book regarding their story. I recommend this book if you like historical fiction or the Kennedy family.
I will admit that I did not know much about Kick Kennedy or her story but she seems to be one of the more interesting members of the Kennedy family. This story follows her in the 1940's when she leaves for London to help during the war efforts of World War II. While her story is primarily the main focus, you still get glimpses into the lives of other women from different socioeconomic statuses and backgrounds who find love and friendship during a time of war. The storytelling here was immersive and you really felt like you were going through the rollercoaster of emotions with the characters.
The main reason this was not a 5 star read for me was that there parts of the story that were a little slow for me. I was very invested in the stories but just wanted them to move at a little bit faster pace.
I am a huge fan of the Kennedy family but this is the first time I've read a fiction book regarding their story. I recommend this book if you like historical fiction or the Kennedy family.
I will admit that I did not know much about Kick Kennedy or her story but she seems to be one of the more interesting members of the Kennedy family. This story follows her in the 1940's when she leaves for London to help during the war efforts of World War II. While her story is primarily the main focus, you still get glimpses into the lives of other women from different socioeconomic statuses and backgrounds who find love and friendship during a time of war. The storytelling here was immersive and you really felt like you were going through the rollercoaster of emotions with the characters.
The main reason this was not a 5 star read for me was that there parts of the story that were a little slow for me. I was very invested in the stories but just wanted them to move at a little bit faster pace.
January 4, 2025
I didn’t know anything about Kick before I read this but I had known about Rosie and Joe, this is a captivating story about how strong Kick was as a person being from her family and how much they were against her and Billy getting married. I was hoping for a happy ever after life for them once the war was over but sadly not to be.
September 22, 2025
When it comes to the Kennedy's, it feels like the men tend to be the figures that we hear the most about. So finding this book about Kick Kennedy was interesting. It is also the second book that I've read in the last year that focuses on her. Reading it also introduced me to members of the Guinness family, especially since the only association I have to the name Guinness is beer and world records.
As a whole the story felt rather slow, but it was interesting to see how the different characters played out in the end.
As a whole the story felt rather slow, but it was interesting to see how the different characters played out in the end.
January 7, 2025
Provided an insight to Kick Kennedy’s life during WW2
January 25, 2025
Emily Hourican strikes again! I adored this book, and its tragedies! It would have been nice for Billy and Kick to get the happy ending they truly wanted but it was never to be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2025
Can be read on its own, despite being a sequel to Invitation to the Kennedys
July 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I really enjoyed this novelization of Kick Kennedy’s life.
PFGT- Plan for Good times while reading this book!
I really enjoyed this novelization of Kick Kennedy’s life.
PFGT- Plan for Good times while reading this book!
October 6, 2025
Thank You to #Goodreads #Giveaway & #Hachette Books Ireland. "This book was very good. It gave information that I didn't have. Now I'm going to read "Invitation to the Kennedys" from this Author.
October 20, 2025
Great novel of London in WW2. I have enjoyed all the books in this series.
August 20, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley and Mobius Books for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this book. It was interesting to learn more about Katerine "Kick" Kennedy and her life. I didn't really know much about her. I enjoyed learning more about her relationships with her family. I really enjoyed all the historical details in the story. Overall, it is a good story. I also thought the author handled the details of Rosemary's life with tenderness and care. I recommend this book if you like to read about the Kennedy's.
I enjoyed this book. It was interesting to learn more about Katerine "Kick" Kennedy and her life. I didn't really know much about her. I enjoyed learning more about her relationships with her family. I really enjoyed all the historical details in the story. Overall, it is a good story. I also thought the author handled the details of Rosemary's life with tenderness and care. I recommend this book if you like to read about the Kennedy's.
September 25, 2025
Kathleen Kennedy has always interested me because she didn't let convention and tradition stop her from expressing her beliefs and desires. She also shows us that life is short, and you need to live your dreams.
The start of the book lets us see a glimpse of life with the four older Kennedy siblings, Joe, Rosemary, Kick, and John. From the beginning, we see how Rosemary was "different" than her siblings. A little curious, a little defiant, and a little strong-willed. Right before our eyes, the author shows us the horrors that Rosemary experienced and how the family reacted to this new "situation" that dad, Joseph, put upon Rosemary.
This book not only gives us Kick's family story, but also her two friends. The threesome worked in England during the war, had romances, unpleasant experiences and many fun times.
Still, the books main theme is about Kick's romance with Charlie Fitzwilliam. She fell hard and fast for him and her family did not approve, except her brother, Joe. Fitzwilliam was a Protestant, and the Kennedys are catholic, so there was no way Mom and Dad would approve this romance.
I don't want to spoil the story, so I will stop. Many aspects are inspired by actual events and may want to read more about Kathleen's short life. I highly encourage that.
The start of the book lets us see a glimpse of life with the four older Kennedy siblings, Joe, Rosemary, Kick, and John. From the beginning, we see how Rosemary was "different" than her siblings. A little curious, a little defiant, and a little strong-willed. Right before our eyes, the author shows us the horrors that Rosemary experienced and how the family reacted to this new "situation" that dad, Joseph, put upon Rosemary.
This book not only gives us Kick's family story, but also her two friends. The threesome worked in England during the war, had romances, unpleasant experiences and many fun times.
Still, the books main theme is about Kick's romance with Charlie Fitzwilliam. She fell hard and fast for him and her family did not approve, except her brother, Joe. Fitzwilliam was a Protestant, and the Kennedys are catholic, so there was no way Mom and Dad would approve this romance.
I don't want to spoil the story, so I will stop. Many aspects are inspired by actual events and may want to read more about Kathleen's short life. I highly encourage that.
August 15, 2025
I was really excited for this book because I think Kick Kennedy is such an interesting person and I really enjoyed seeing her story come to life. Overall, the book was okay. I loved all the characters and was invested in the story and what was going on, however, it felt extremely slow. I wanted to know what was happening in the book but I also wanted to fast forward through a lot of things. I did enjoy the book and seeing all the girls stories were so amazing and different even though they were going through the same things. I just think there were some things in the story that did not need to be there and often made the story less interesting.
Thank you NetGalley and Mobius Books for the advanced reader copy!
Thank you NetGalley and Mobius Books for the advanced reader copy!
January 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Glittering with forbidden passion, vibrant characters and the blackening hum of war, Emily Hourican’s ‘A Kennedy Affair’ is an immersive, sumptuous read based on the real lives of its heady protagonists.
Set amid the cavernous backdrop of 1940’s war torn London, the novel charts Kathleen ‘Kick’ Kennedy- sister of JFK- as she battles through societal expectations, her parents and war to marry aristocrat love Billy Cavendish. With the chasm between their culture and religion impassable, can Kick get the guy – and come out of the war unscathed by loss?
Hourican has become a household name in historical fiction – spearheaded by her captivating portrait of sisters Maureen, Aileen and Ooonagh in ‘The Glorious Guinness Girls’. Her deft portrait of the forgotten IT girls of the 1920s flapper era spawned an entire empire of books focusing on their evolving fate. In her last two books, she has extended that lens to another kernel of fascination – The Kennedy clan, and their little know entanglement with British war politics.
So embedded are both families in generational lore that every tibet of knowledge about these larger-than-life characters is captivating and inspires a sense of awe.
Hourican combines factual events which such deft prose that you can almost taste the cocktails, smell the acrid smoke in the murky depths of the 400 club and sense the palpable sense of fear in the air as the war nears a shuddering end.
Characters leap off the page, leaving the reader looking to immediately google the protagonists to find out more.
Here, in the depths of the book we hear the secrets of The Kennedys, from the fate of the eldest Joe and sad end to sister Rosemary. And with that this is a darker book than her previous tone. Death, and the looming spectrum of it, wafts through the pages in ghostly form. Each character is laced with an atrocity of either the war’s making or that of fate.
But despite – and even inspite this – glitter and glamour rips through the pages placing the reader outside of reality and deep into the past. A perfect escapist read this autumn. @emilyhourican
#bookstagram #irishbooks #irishbookstagram
Glittering with forbidden passion, vibrant characters and the blackening hum of war, Emily Hourican’s ‘A Kennedy Affair’ is an immersive, sumptuous read based on the real lives of its heady protagonists.
Set amid the cavernous backdrop of 1940’s war torn London, the novel charts Kathleen ‘Kick’ Kennedy- sister of JFK- as she battles through societal expectations, her parents and war to marry aristocrat love Billy Cavendish. With the chasm between their culture and religion impassable, can Kick get the guy – and come out of the war unscathed by loss?
Hourican has become a household name in historical fiction – spearheaded by her captivating portrait of sisters Maureen, Aileen and Ooonagh in ‘The Glorious Guinness Girls’. Her deft portrait of the forgotten IT girls of the 1920s flapper era spawned an entire empire of books focusing on their evolving fate. In her last two books, she has extended that lens to another kernel of fascination – The Kennedy clan, and their little know entanglement with British war politics.
So embedded are both families in generational lore that every tibet of knowledge about these larger-than-life characters is captivating and inspires a sense of awe.
Hourican combines factual events which such deft prose that you can almost taste the cocktails, smell the acrid smoke in the murky depths of the 400 club and sense the palpable sense of fear in the air as the war nears a shuddering end.
Characters leap off the page, leaving the reader looking to immediately google the protagonists to find out more.
Here, in the depths of the book we hear the secrets of The Kennedys, from the fate of the eldest Joe and sad end to sister Rosemary. And with that this is a darker book than her previous tone. Death, and the looming spectrum of it, wafts through the pages in ghostly form. Each character is laced with an atrocity of either the war’s making or that of fate.
But despite – and even inspite this – glitter and glamour rips through the pages placing the reader outside of reality and deep into the past. A perfect escapist read this autumn. @emilyhourican
#bookstagram #irishbooks #irishbookstagram
October 19, 2025
Hey y’all! Today on "Y’all Have To Read This," I have a great one for you. I recently read "A Kennedy Affair" by Emily Hourican, (@emilyhourican ) and it is NOT about JFK. It is about his little sister Kick or Kathleen. I just went out and Googled WWII romance and this one came up. Romance and history?! YES PLEASE.
This book is set in London, England in 1942. I really enjoyed it. It is not only the story of Kathleen and her love affair with Billy Cavendish, but it is also the story of lots of other women that she was associating with at the time. It is historical fiction based on fact. Much of the book I already knew (self- proclaimed history nerd here 🙋♀️) but I liked the way the story was written. I also liked the stories of the other women as well. Highly recommend it. The writing is scrumptious and I really savored it. If you like historical fiction based on facts or you like stories about the Kennedy family, this is a good book for you to check out. This is a no spice book but I gave it five stars.
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As always, please like and follow me on the social media of your choice for more good romance (and other) recs. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to check out my book, The Carrington Affairs on Amazon. Remember, right now it is FREE! on Kindle Unlimited and Audible if you have an account. Until next time, Happy Reading Y’all!
#thecarringtonaffairs #kindleunlimited #susangoochauthor #susangooch #bookstagtam #romancebooks #suspensefulnovels #thrillers #historicalfiction #carringtonaffairs #goodreads #secondchanceromance #smalltownromance #mysearcy #spicybooks #sweetbooks #tbr #goodreadsauthor #audible #bookrecs #instabooks #yallhavegottoreadthis #yhgtrt #bookinstagtam #tbr #audible #goodreadsauthor
37w
This book is set in London, England in 1942. I really enjoyed it. It is not only the story of Kathleen and her love affair with Billy Cavendish, but it is also the story of lots of other women that she was associating with at the time. It is historical fiction based on fact. Much of the book I already knew (self- proclaimed history nerd here 🙋♀️) but I liked the way the story was written. I also liked the stories of the other women as well. Highly recommend it. The writing is scrumptious and I really savored it. If you like historical fiction based on facts or you like stories about the Kennedy family, this is a good book for you to check out. This is a no spice book but I gave it five stars.
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As always, please like and follow me on the social media of your choice for more good romance (and other) recs. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to check out my book, The Carrington Affairs on Amazon. Remember, right now it is FREE! on Kindle Unlimited and Audible if you have an account. Until next time, Happy Reading Y’all!
#thecarringtonaffairs #kindleunlimited #susangoochauthor #susangooch #bookstagtam #romancebooks #suspensefulnovels #thrillers #historicalfiction #carringtonaffairs #goodreads #secondchanceromance #smalltownromance #mysearcy #spicybooks #sweetbooks #tbr #goodreadsauthor #audible #bookrecs #instabooks #yallhavegottoreadthis #yhgtrt #bookinstagtam #tbr #audible #goodreadsauthor
37w
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