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The Summer I Met Jack: A Novel
New York Times bestselling author imagines the affair between JFK and Alicia Corning Clark - and the child they may have had.
Based on a real story - in 1950, a young, beautiful Polish refugee arrives in Hyannisport, Massachusetts to work as a maid for one of the wealthiest families in America. Alicia is at once dazzled by the large and charismatic family, in particular the oldest son, a rising politician named Jack.
Alicia and Jack are soon engaged, but his domineering father forbids the marriage. And so, Alicia trades Hyannisport for Hollywood, and eventually Rome. She dates famous actors and athletes and royalty, including Gary Cooper, Kirk Douglas, and Katharine Hepburn, all the while staying close with Jack. A decade after they meet, on the eve of Jack’s inauguration as the thirty-fifth President of the United States, the two must confront what they mean to each other.
The Summer I Met Jack is based on the fascinating real life of Alicia Corning Clark, a woman who J. Edgar Hoover insisted was paid by the Kennedys to keep quiet, not only about her romance with Jack Kennedy, but also a baby they may have had together.
Based on a real story - in 1950, a young, beautiful Polish refugee arrives in Hyannisport, Massachusetts to work as a maid for one of the wealthiest families in America. Alicia is at once dazzled by the large and charismatic family, in particular the oldest son, a rising politician named Jack.
Alicia and Jack are soon engaged, but his domineering father forbids the marriage. And so, Alicia trades Hyannisport for Hollywood, and eventually Rome. She dates famous actors and athletes and royalty, including Gary Cooper, Kirk Douglas, and Katharine Hepburn, all the while staying close with Jack. A decade after they meet, on the eve of Jack’s inauguration as the thirty-fifth President of the United States, the two must confront what they mean to each other.
The Summer I Met Jack is based on the fascinating real life of Alicia Corning Clark, a woman who J. Edgar Hoover insisted was paid by the Kennedys to keep quiet, not only about her romance with Jack Kennedy, but also a baby they may have had together.
528 pages, Paperback
First published May 29, 2018
546 people are currently reading
7623 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Gable
13 books1,535 followersMichelle Gable is the New York Times Bestselling author of A PARIS APARTMENT, I'LL SEE YOU IN PARIS, THE BOOK OF SUMMER, and THE SUMMER I MET JACK.
Michelle grew up in San Diego and attended The College of William & Mary, where she majored in accounting, as most aspiring writers do. After a twenty-year career in finance, Michelle now writes full-time. She lives in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, with her husband, two daughters, and what is quickly becoming a menagerie: one cat, one bunny, and a lab/jindo mix recently rescued from the dog meat trade in Thailand.
Michelle can be reached at www.michellegable.com or on Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest at @MGableWriter.
Michelle grew up in San Diego and attended The College of William & Mary, where she majored in accounting, as most aspiring writers do. After a twenty-year career in finance, Michelle now writes full-time. She lives in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, with her husband, two daughters, and what is quickly becoming a menagerie: one cat, one bunny, and a lab/jindo mix recently rescued from the dog meat trade in Thailand.
Michelle can be reached at www.michellegable.com or on Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest at @MGableWriter.
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June 8, 2018
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4.5 Stars!
This is the first novel I’ve read from Michelle Gable. The first line of the book blurb:
“New York Times bestselling author imagines the affair between JFK and Alicia Corning Clark - and the child they may have had.”
I was intrigued. The fact that this is based on the real-life romance between Jack Kennedy and Alicia Corning Clark is fascinating.
Alica Darr (formerly Barbara Kopczysnka), came to America in hopes of a better life. Before the war, Alicia was an upper-class citizen with a loving mother and father. Now she’s a “Displaced Person”, alone and hoping that she’ll be allowed to stay in America.
Alica meets a handsome and charismatic man at the movie theatre where she works. She feels an instant connection to him. It’s not just that he’s handsome, “ there remained something special about him, something beautiful that had little to do with actual presentation ” and he also “had one hell of a smile ”.
And then he introduces himself…..“ My name’s Jack. Jack Kennedy”
He was one of them . Irenka had told many stories of this family...the mischief and the trouble they caused. “They stole cars, broke limbs, and swiped food off one another’s plates.” After some harmless flirting, he leaves….leaving Alicia both charmed and bewildered.
And so begins a romance like no other. But this isn’t just about Alicia and Jack. It’s also about the other aspects of Alicia’s life. A woman with many names whose life was full of fascinating experiences and people. From Massachusetts to Hollywood and Rome; she had friendships and relationships with many well-known people. People like Kirk Douglas, Marilyn Monroe, and Katherine Hepburn, just to name a few. And of course Jack… “ how can I love him so much when he gives me so little in return”.
But Alicia also had secrets and lived in fear of many things. We learn about her engagements and marriages… and the tough choices she had to make.
This was such a unique read for me. I’ve always wondered about the Kennedy’s but knew very little about them. I was so curious about what was true, what wasn’t true….or even what was partially true. Was Rose Kennedy really a cold mother obsessed with her children’s weight, weighing them weekly? Did she run her family like a business? Was Joe really warm and loving to his children but so blatantly obvious about his extracurricular activities?
I was constantly running to my laptop to check things out. It was interesting looking at old pictures and articles online. I’ve honestly never Googled so much about a novel I was reading before. Even if some of what I read wasn’t true… it didn’t matter to me. I was learning things while enjoying a great story.
This is a story about a love affair, a fascinating woman, and a family that was said to be more connected than the mob and FBI and apparently more deceitful than both of them put together. This is not a biography, but it is based on real people and events. A book with a lot of true facts mixed with fiction in order to tell a story. And what a story it was! I can tell how much effort went into this novel and I appreciate it. What’s the full truth? We may never know for sure. But this sure was an interesting read.
I'd like to thank St.Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 Stars!
This is the first novel I’ve read from Michelle Gable. The first line of the book blurb:
“New York Times bestselling author imagines the affair between JFK and Alicia Corning Clark - and the child they may have had.”
I was intrigued. The fact that this is based on the real-life romance between Jack Kennedy and Alicia Corning Clark is fascinating.
Alica Darr (formerly Barbara Kopczysnka), came to America in hopes of a better life. Before the war, Alicia was an upper-class citizen with a loving mother and father. Now she’s a “Displaced Person”, alone and hoping that she’ll be allowed to stay in America.
Alica meets a handsome and charismatic man at the movie theatre where she works. She feels an instant connection to him. It’s not just that he’s handsome, “ there remained something special about him, something beautiful that had little to do with actual presentation ” and he also “had one hell of a smile ”.
And then he introduces himself…..“ My name’s Jack. Jack Kennedy”
He was one of them . Irenka had told many stories of this family...the mischief and the trouble they caused. “They stole cars, broke limbs, and swiped food off one another’s plates.” After some harmless flirting, he leaves….leaving Alicia both charmed and bewildered.
And so begins a romance like no other. But this isn’t just about Alicia and Jack. It’s also about the other aspects of Alicia’s life. A woman with many names whose life was full of fascinating experiences and people. From Massachusetts to Hollywood and Rome; she had friendships and relationships with many well-known people. People like Kirk Douglas, Marilyn Monroe, and Katherine Hepburn, just to name a few. And of course Jack… “ how can I love him so much when he gives me so little in return”.
But Alicia also had secrets and lived in fear of many things. We learn about her engagements and marriages… and the tough choices she had to make.
This was such a unique read for me. I’ve always wondered about the Kennedy’s but knew very little about them. I was so curious about what was true, what wasn’t true….or even what was partially true. Was Rose Kennedy really a cold mother obsessed with her children’s weight, weighing them weekly? Did she run her family like a business? Was Joe really warm and loving to his children but so blatantly obvious about his extracurricular activities?
I was constantly running to my laptop to check things out. It was interesting looking at old pictures and articles online. I’ve honestly never Googled so much about a novel I was reading before. Even if some of what I read wasn’t true… it didn’t matter to me. I was learning things while enjoying a great story.
This is a story about a love affair, a fascinating woman, and a family that was said to be more connected than the mob and FBI and apparently more deceitful than both of them put together. This is not a biography, but it is based on real people and events. A book with a lot of true facts mixed with fiction in order to tell a story. And what a story it was! I can tell how much effort went into this novel and I appreciate it. What’s the full truth? We may never know for sure. But this sure was an interesting read.
I'd like to thank St.Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 22, 2017
Launching 5/22/2018
THE SUMMER I MET JACK is my fourth book and I'm still recovering from writing it!
Yes, it is that Jack, and yes, it's based on a true story. The wealthy Alicia Corning Clark died in New York, in 2016, at the stated age of 79 but she lied about her age constantly and apparently even in death. Her estate and wills were in a state of bedlam so attorneys tried to track down possible heirs. She didn't have any children...or did she?
Alicia, a Jewish refugee from Poland, had a romance with then-congressman Jack Kennedy in the early 50s, and their relationship continued (on and off, one assumes) for approximately a decade thereafter. J. Edgar Hoover's files were released under the Freedom of Information Act in 1977 and in them he claims that Bobby Kennedy gave Alicia $500,000 of hush money shortly before JFK's 1961 inauguration. Surely this was about more than the two dating in 1950, eleven years prior and while Jack was single. In THE SUMMER I MET JACK, I try to piece together what might have happened, as well as take the reader through Alicia's very colorful life, which included affairs with Gary Cooper and Katharine Hepburn, to name a few.
This book was by far the hardest for me to write, and it took the longest (several times over), and required the most amount of research. In writing it, I read over 150 books and thousands of articles (many I had translated from other languages) and pages and pages of partially redacted FBI files. I conducted a few interviews and flew thousands of miles to read articles available only on microfiche. I also had to learn to use microfiche again. ;) As always, where I use historical people and events, my goal is to make the narrative plausible. I write fiction, so this is not meant to be a biography. However, much of it is fact and I weave fiction into the gaps to tell a story.
In my Goodreads review for my first book, I joked that I had to give it 5 stars, sort of like how you have to think your kids are cute (mine actually are, of course). Well, this book was a kid who was colicky for over a year and never let me sleep for more than two hours at a time. This kid whined and complained and often spit back up whatever I put into him. He has the "Kennedy stomach," I guess. In the end, though, I love him, perhaps because he put me through so much agony and came out okay on the other side. I put every drop of myself into this book, and I hope you love the result.
THE SUMMER I MET JACK is my fourth book and I'm still recovering from writing it!
Yes, it is that Jack, and yes, it's based on a true story. The wealthy Alicia Corning Clark died in New York, in 2016, at the stated age of 79 but she lied about her age constantly and apparently even in death. Her estate and wills were in a state of bedlam so attorneys tried to track down possible heirs. She didn't have any children...or did she?
Alicia, a Jewish refugee from Poland, had a romance with then-congressman Jack Kennedy in the early 50s, and their relationship continued (on and off, one assumes) for approximately a decade thereafter. J. Edgar Hoover's files were released under the Freedom of Information Act in 1977 and in them he claims that Bobby Kennedy gave Alicia $500,000 of hush money shortly before JFK's 1961 inauguration. Surely this was about more than the two dating in 1950, eleven years prior and while Jack was single. In THE SUMMER I MET JACK, I try to piece together what might have happened, as well as take the reader through Alicia's very colorful life, which included affairs with Gary Cooper and Katharine Hepburn, to name a few.
This book was by far the hardest for me to write, and it took the longest (several times over), and required the most amount of research. In writing it, I read over 150 books and thousands of articles (many I had translated from other languages) and pages and pages of partially redacted FBI files. I conducted a few interviews and flew thousands of miles to read articles available only on microfiche. I also had to learn to use microfiche again. ;) As always, where I use historical people and events, my goal is to make the narrative plausible. I write fiction, so this is not meant to be a biography. However, much of it is fact and I weave fiction into the gaps to tell a story.
In my Goodreads review for my first book, I joked that I had to give it 5 stars, sort of like how you have to think your kids are cute (mine actually are, of course). Well, this book was a kid who was colicky for over a year and never let me sleep for more than two hours at a time. This kid whined and complained and often spit back up whatever I put into him. He has the "Kennedy stomach," I guess. In the end, though, I love him, perhaps because he put me through so much agony and came out okay on the other side. I put every drop of myself into this book, and I hope you love the result.
March 21, 2019
Thanks to my long time great friend - Lisi...
I read this because she gave it 5 stars.
3 stars for me - But it was interesting...
...about a Polish refugee woman in Jack Kennedy’s life - starting in the 1950s… Before Kennedy was President.
I had never heard of Alicia Corning... apparently Jack Kennedy‘s first love.
I’m not a person who follows the history and drama on the Kennedy’s lives....
But I thought this might be a great story for what it was... and that’s about it...
a ‘fair’ story for what it was.
*Drama-history* about a love affair with Jack Kennedy.
I found myself googling Alicia Corning to see how much of this story was real.
I suppose some of it was.
Who knows ...
Average - to a little meh for me.
I read this because she gave it 5 stars.
3 stars for me - But it was interesting...
...about a Polish refugee woman in Jack Kennedy’s life - starting in the 1950s… Before Kennedy was President.
I had never heard of Alicia Corning... apparently Jack Kennedy‘s first love.
I’m not a person who follows the history and drama on the Kennedy’s lives....
But I thought this might be a great story for what it was... and that’s about it...
a ‘fair’ story for what it was.
*Drama-history* about a love affair with Jack Kennedy.
I found myself googling Alicia Corning to see how much of this story was real.
I suppose some of it was.
Who knows ...
Average - to a little meh for me.
June 9, 2018
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When I first heard about this book, I was very excited because I had read Michelle Gable’s I’ll See you in Paris and already knew I liked her writing. Like many Americans, I’ve always been drawn to glamour and glitz as well as the drama and tragedy of the Kennedy family. I somehow had it in my head that this was going to be a very Kennedy-centric book detailing one of his many affairs. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was much more than that.
The Summer I Met Jack is the fascinating story of how a young woman, a “displaced person” from Poland, rose from Kennedy cleaning lady to almost-first-lady and Hollywood fame. As you might imagine, it didn’t happen easily. How the story of Alicia Darr never came to my attention is now beyond my comprehension. She was a fascinating woman in her own right and I’m glad her story has been told in this novel.
Alicia was a very a complex character. I’m not sure that I found her to be 100% likable but I did, for the most part, respect her. She was a bit of what some might call a climber but, let’s face it, options for women with ambition and no formal education or family to stand behind were limited in the 1950’s. I empathized with her situation. She was able to transition from a naive young woman to a wealthy, sophisticated socialite. Certainly Jack played a role in all that but, after reading the book, I have mixed feelings about exactly what that was. He certainly helped her make connections that advanced her career. But at what cost to her personal life? She certainly had a very interesting history with men post-Jack.
As for Jack, I learned a fair about him that I didn’t know as well. And while it’s perhaps a bit naive of me, I was surprised and frustrated to learn the extent of his family’s meddling. They may have changed the very course of history for Jack and our country.
It’s very apparent from the text and the author’s notes that a tremendous amount of research went into this book. I was inspired to do some googling on my own and enjoyed reading even more about Alicia and her remarkable life.
The Summer I Met Jack was a very compelling read. The second half flew by even faster than the first. This book is a great beach read for anyone who prefers a page-turner with just the right amount of substance.
4.5/5 stars
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You can read this and all of my reviews at Lit·Wit·Wine·Dine
When I first heard about this book, I was very excited because I had read Michelle Gable’s I’ll See you in Paris and already knew I liked her writing. Like many Americans, I’ve always been drawn to glamour and glitz as well as the drama and tragedy of the Kennedy family. I somehow had it in my head that this was going to be a very Kennedy-centric book detailing one of his many affairs. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was much more than that.
The Summer I Met Jack is the fascinating story of how a young woman, a “displaced person” from Poland, rose from Kennedy cleaning lady to almost-first-lady and Hollywood fame. As you might imagine, it didn’t happen easily. How the story of Alicia Darr never came to my attention is now beyond my comprehension. She was a fascinating woman in her own right and I’m glad her story has been told in this novel.
Alicia was a very a complex character. I’m not sure that I found her to be 100% likable but I did, for the most part, respect her. She was a bit of what some might call a climber but, let’s face it, options for women with ambition and no formal education or family to stand behind were limited in the 1950’s. I empathized with her situation. She was able to transition from a naive young woman to a wealthy, sophisticated socialite. Certainly Jack played a role in all that but, after reading the book, I have mixed feelings about exactly what that was. He certainly helped her make connections that advanced her career. But at what cost to her personal life? She certainly had a very interesting history with men post-Jack.
As for Jack, I learned a fair about him that I didn’t know as well. And while it’s perhaps a bit naive of me, I was surprised and frustrated to learn the extent of his family’s meddling. They may have changed the very course of history for Jack and our country.
It’s very apparent from the text and the author’s notes that a tremendous amount of research went into this book. I was inspired to do some googling on my own and enjoyed reading even more about Alicia and her remarkable life.
The Summer I Met Jack was a very compelling read. The second half flew by even faster than the first. This book is a great beach read for anyone who prefers a page-turner with just the right amount of substance.
4.5/5 stars
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You can read this and all of my reviews at Lit·Wit·Wine·Dine
June 10, 2018
For me, this book was a huge disappointment and while I wouldn’t say that I regretted reading it, I do wish that I had stood my ground a bit more in terms of not accepting widgets for books that I wasn’t tremendously interested in reading. Of course, I already knew going into this book that it would be a story about the Kennedy family (albeit a fictional story), more specifically about JFK and the love affair he supposedly had with a woman named Alicia Corning Clark (Alicia Darr for most of the story) in the early years prior to him becoming the 35th President of the United States. I actually had never heard of Alicia Corning Clark prior to reading this book and being that this was an “imagined” story of the affair, I deliberately refrained from looking up anything about her until after I finished reading, as I didn’t want any preconceived understanding about who Clark was in real life to affect my feelings toward her character in the story (more on this later). Despite the mention of “love affair” in the book summary, I was fully expecting this story to lean more towards historical fiction given the historical context with the Kennedy family, however it turned out that this fell more heavily into the romance category. In addition, parts of the story felt a bit YA to me, mostly due to the main female protagonist being in her early 20s for much of the story, yet acting like a defiant teenager majority of the time, plus the style of the writing felt less mature and many of the scenarios were melodramatic (more about the writing later). Unfortunately, both of these genres (romance and YA) are ones that I don’t really care for, so this did put me off quite a bit.
Genre aside, there were actually quite a few things that made this book a disappointment for me (hence the low rating), though interestingly enough, in reading through the reviews, I seem to once again be the outlier here, as there are a lot of 4 and 5 star ratings for this book and most readers didn’t seem to have the same issues I did. It does make me wonder whether I actually read the same book that everyone else read….
In any case, one of the things that frustrated me most with this story were the characters and the way they were written, especially Alicia, a character I disliked almost from the start. Like I mentioned earlier, I didn’t know anything about the real-life Alicia going into this (and I still don’t know that much about her to be quite honest), so I can’t comment on how she compares to the real person, but to me, Alicia in the story came off as a caricature and, at times, somewhat stereotypical. Everything about Alicia (the character) seemed to be contradictory in that her behavior never seemed to sync up with her thoughts and more often than not, she would say one thing and do the complete opposite. Don’t get me wrong – I’m all for flawed characters in fictional stories and in fact, prefer them over characters that come across too perfect, but in this case, I felt like the author went a bit overboard in the opposite direction in that Alicia seemed to have all her worst personality flaws exaggerated and brought into the spotlight while her positive traits (aside from her looks of course – there was constant reference to Alicia being “blonde and beautiful”) were mostly pushed to the background. Most of the other characters as well were depicted this way (negative personality traits magnified tenfold) -- though of course, with the Kennedys, it’s not surprising given all the scandals and rumors surrounding that infamous family, but still, given that this was a fictional story, I was expecting the characterizations to be a bit more balanced. Instead, I felt at times that I was reading a “tell-all” biography of sorts about the various transgressions of the Kennedy family with an emphasis on JFK and the scandalous life he led (um, I think most of us already know that JFK was a charmer who had numerous affairs both while he was president and before that – I didn’t need this fact to be reinforced throughout the story by depicting his character as a sex fiend who couldn’t seem to get near a woman without wanting to have sex with her…it seemed like every couple pages I was reading about either his or Alicia’s sexual exploits, which honestly got tiring after like the 5th mention barely a quarter of the way through the book….).
Plot-wise, there really wasn’t much there outside of Alicia’s various relationship “adventures,” which honestly didn’t interest me much – in fact, I felt bored reading the same repetitive bits about Alicia striking up a relationship with one famous person after another (the second half of the book was basically about Alicia’s “colorful” dating life -- the various people she met and had flings with). Included in this were details about Alicia’s 3 marriages, most notably the one to Alfred Corning Clark, the heir to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune who left Alicia a hefty fortune after his death within weeks of their marriage. This wealth came into play in a second timeline taking place more than 60 years later, in 2016, when the executor of the now deceased Alicia Corning Clark’s estate searches for a rumored potential heir to all the money she left behind (a search that really did take place back in 2016 and was reported on in the media). To be honest, this part of the story felt like a completely different book, as the writing was more engaging and the narrative was framed as a “mystery” of sorts that I actually wanted to get to the bottom of – unfortunately, this second narrative was way too brief, only a few dozen pages max, and the format of interspersing snippets of this narrative sporadically throughout the main story meant that when I started skimming the book at around the 25% mark (yes, things started getting repetitive very early in the story), I ended up missing more of the second narrative than I intended.
Overall though, the issues I had with the story and the unbalanced character depictions pale in comparisons to the problems I had with the writing, which already wasn’t that great to begin with, but when you add tons of grammatical errors to the mix, this became a tedious and exceedingly frustrating read for me. I’m not sure if this had to do with the ARC version I received being messed up somehow (or perhaps the version I received was a very early rough draft), but it appears that there was little to no editing to speak of with this book. The biggest issue I noticed is what I call the missing “f” dilemma: all words that were supposed to have “ff” in them were missing one “f” for some reason – so “offer” became “ofer,” “affair” became “afair,” “off” became “of” etc. – these last two (missing “f” in the words “affair” and “off”) were especially egregious given the extraordinary number of times both words were used throughout the story (basically it was every few pages -- trying to differentiate the instances between when the author was trying to use “off” versus “of” alone ended up giving me a headache). As if that weren’t enough, there were also sections where the narrative voice switched back and forth in between dialogue, which really threw me off and made this an even bigger chore to read. For example, there was a section where one of Alicia’s friends George asks about her family back home – instead of that section being written as a conversation between two people with dialogue set apart by quotation marks as it was in most of the other parts of the book, it was written in an odd half conversation half third person manner – George would ask a question “But your mother…?” (only including part of the quote so as to avoid spoilers) and instead of Alicia answering the question directly like we would expect in a normal conversation, what followed was 7 paragraphs explaining what happened to her mother but written in third person (i.e.: Alicia left school, Alicia filled out a form, Alicia tried looking for her, etc.) – then the next paragraph after that switches back to conversation mode with George’s dialogue in quotations and Alicia’s response also in quotations, but then the paragraph after that switches back to half and half mode again. I thought at first this was just an isolated issue with that particular section of the book and so was ready to ignore it and move on, but then a dozen or so pages later, the same thing happened again, except this time it was a “conversation” between Alicia and Jack (though this time, there was the added confusion of switching from dialogue in quotes, to a third person response, to a second person response, and then back to dialogue again). For the most part, I tend to be a little more lenient with ARCs, since it IS an uncorrected / unedited version after all, but this one was particularly bad – I’ve read several dozen ARCs over the past 2 years and this is the first time I’ve come across one with so many issues, mistakes that spanned every couple pages. The only reason I didn’t DNF the book at this point was because I had already made the decision earlier on (around the 25% mark as I mentioned above) to skim through the rest of the book due to my inability to connect with the story and majority of the characters, so I stopped paying as much attention to these issues after that.
Obviously I wouldn’t recommend this book, but like I said earlier, in reading through the many glowing reviews, I seem to be the only one who had issues, so perhaps, unlucky for me, I just received a bad ARC version of the book? I haven’t read any of this author’s other works so there’s nothing for me to compare against in terms of the writing. Probably those interested in the Kennedy family will feel compelled to read this, though if so, I recommend getting a library copy or a fully edited version. As for myself, I don’t intend on re-reading this even if a “cleaned up” version becomes available, since the subject matter is only mildly interesting to me anyway.
Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley
Genre aside, there were actually quite a few things that made this book a disappointment for me (hence the low rating), though interestingly enough, in reading through the reviews, I seem to once again be the outlier here, as there are a lot of 4 and 5 star ratings for this book and most readers didn’t seem to have the same issues I did. It does make me wonder whether I actually read the same book that everyone else read….
In any case, one of the things that frustrated me most with this story were the characters and the way they were written, especially Alicia, a character I disliked almost from the start. Like I mentioned earlier, I didn’t know anything about the real-life Alicia going into this (and I still don’t know that much about her to be quite honest), so I can’t comment on how she compares to the real person, but to me, Alicia in the story came off as a caricature and, at times, somewhat stereotypical. Everything about Alicia (the character) seemed to be contradictory in that her behavior never seemed to sync up with her thoughts and more often than not, she would say one thing and do the complete opposite. Don’t get me wrong – I’m all for flawed characters in fictional stories and in fact, prefer them over characters that come across too perfect, but in this case, I felt like the author went a bit overboard in the opposite direction in that Alicia seemed to have all her worst personality flaws exaggerated and brought into the spotlight while her positive traits (aside from her looks of course – there was constant reference to Alicia being “blonde and beautiful”) were mostly pushed to the background. Most of the other characters as well were depicted this way (negative personality traits magnified tenfold) -- though of course, with the Kennedys, it’s not surprising given all the scandals and rumors surrounding that infamous family, but still, given that this was a fictional story, I was expecting the characterizations to be a bit more balanced. Instead, I felt at times that I was reading a “tell-all” biography of sorts about the various transgressions of the Kennedy family with an emphasis on JFK and the scandalous life he led (um, I think most of us already know that JFK was a charmer who had numerous affairs both while he was president and before that – I didn’t need this fact to be reinforced throughout the story by depicting his character as a sex fiend who couldn’t seem to get near a woman without wanting to have sex with her…it seemed like every couple pages I was reading about either his or Alicia’s sexual exploits, which honestly got tiring after like the 5th mention barely a quarter of the way through the book….).
Plot-wise, there really wasn’t much there outside of Alicia’s various relationship “adventures,” which honestly didn’t interest me much – in fact, I felt bored reading the same repetitive bits about Alicia striking up a relationship with one famous person after another (the second half of the book was basically about Alicia’s “colorful” dating life -- the various people she met and had flings with). Included in this were details about Alicia’s 3 marriages, most notably the one to Alfred Corning Clark, the heir to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune who left Alicia a hefty fortune after his death within weeks of their marriage. This wealth came into play in a second timeline taking place more than 60 years later, in 2016, when the executor of the now deceased Alicia Corning Clark’s estate searches for a rumored potential heir to all the money she left behind (a search that really did take place back in 2016 and was reported on in the media). To be honest, this part of the story felt like a completely different book, as the writing was more engaging and the narrative was framed as a “mystery” of sorts that I actually wanted to get to the bottom of – unfortunately, this second narrative was way too brief, only a few dozen pages max, and the format of interspersing snippets of this narrative sporadically throughout the main story meant that when I started skimming the book at around the 25% mark (yes, things started getting repetitive very early in the story), I ended up missing more of the second narrative than I intended.
Overall though, the issues I had with the story and the unbalanced character depictions pale in comparisons to the problems I had with the writing, which already wasn’t that great to begin with, but when you add tons of grammatical errors to the mix, this became a tedious and exceedingly frustrating read for me. I’m not sure if this had to do with the ARC version I received being messed up somehow (or perhaps the version I received was a very early rough draft), but it appears that there was little to no editing to speak of with this book. The biggest issue I noticed is what I call the missing “f” dilemma: all words that were supposed to have “ff” in them were missing one “f” for some reason – so “offer” became “ofer,” “affair” became “afair,” “off” became “of” etc. – these last two (missing “f” in the words “affair” and “off”) were especially egregious given the extraordinary number of times both words were used throughout the story (basically it was every few pages -- trying to differentiate the instances between when the author was trying to use “off” versus “of” alone ended up giving me a headache). As if that weren’t enough, there were also sections where the narrative voice switched back and forth in between dialogue, which really threw me off and made this an even bigger chore to read. For example, there was a section where one of Alicia’s friends George asks about her family back home – instead of that section being written as a conversation between two people with dialogue set apart by quotation marks as it was in most of the other parts of the book, it was written in an odd half conversation half third person manner – George would ask a question “But your mother…?” (only including part of the quote so as to avoid spoilers) and instead of Alicia answering the question directly like we would expect in a normal conversation, what followed was 7 paragraphs explaining what happened to her mother but written in third person (i.e.: Alicia left school, Alicia filled out a form, Alicia tried looking for her, etc.) – then the next paragraph after that switches back to conversation mode with George’s dialogue in quotations and Alicia’s response also in quotations, but then the paragraph after that switches back to half and half mode again. I thought at first this was just an isolated issue with that particular section of the book and so was ready to ignore it and move on, but then a dozen or so pages later, the same thing happened again, except this time it was a “conversation” between Alicia and Jack (though this time, there was the added confusion of switching from dialogue in quotes, to a third person response, to a second person response, and then back to dialogue again). For the most part, I tend to be a little more lenient with ARCs, since it IS an uncorrected / unedited version after all, but this one was particularly bad – I’ve read several dozen ARCs over the past 2 years and this is the first time I’ve come across one with so many issues, mistakes that spanned every couple pages. The only reason I didn’t DNF the book at this point was because I had already made the decision earlier on (around the 25% mark as I mentioned above) to skim through the rest of the book due to my inability to connect with the story and majority of the characters, so I stopped paying as much attention to these issues after that.
Obviously I wouldn’t recommend this book, but like I said earlier, in reading through the many glowing reviews, I seem to be the only one who had issues, so perhaps, unlucky for me, I just received a bad ARC version of the book? I haven’t read any of this author’s other works so there’s nothing for me to compare against in terms of the writing. Probably those interested in the Kennedy family will feel compelled to read this, though if so, I recommend getting a library copy or a fully edited version. As for myself, I don’t intend on re-reading this even if a “cleaned up” version becomes available, since the subject matter is only mildly interesting to me anyway.
Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley
September 7, 2021
It took me a while to finish this one. It’s amazing how many stories there are surrounding the Kennedy family, and I’ve read a few of books, including this one.
The Summer I Met Jack is about JFK’s relationship with Alicia Darr, who some say was his one true love. What I liked is that the story is more about Alicia than it is about the affair. She was born in Poland and once worked as a housekeeper for the Kennedys. She has one of those stories that makes you wonder how you had not heard of her before.
I also learned about the Kennedys and how they pushed and pulled the family dynamics and the lives of others with their meddling in relationships.
Overall, the best parts of the story were learning about Alicia’s fascinating life, and I appreciate the research that went into the writing of this book.
I received a gifted copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
The Summer I Met Jack is about JFK’s relationship with Alicia Darr, who some say was his one true love. What I liked is that the story is more about Alicia than it is about the affair. She was born in Poland and once worked as a housekeeper for the Kennedys. She has one of those stories that makes you wonder how you had not heard of her before.
I also learned about the Kennedys and how they pushed and pulled the family dynamics and the lives of others with their meddling in relationships.
Overall, the best parts of the story were learning about Alicia’s fascinating life, and I appreciate the research that went into the writing of this book.
I received a gifted copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
May 29, 2018
4.5 The unexpected pleasure of going into a book blind is so rewarding. The Summer I Met Jack is pure pleasure as I’m whisked away to the 1950’s. The story shifts from the 1950’s to present day which kept me intrigued and reading on to find out how the two intersect.
Barbara Kopczysnka is an immigrant from Poland. She changes her name to Alicia Darr to assimilate and appear more American. She soon finds employment at the house of the Kennedy’s as a maid. Yes, ‘the’ Kennedy’s. She is also selling her paintings at the local movie house while working there as well. It is at the movie house where she first encounters Jack Kennedy and there is an undeniable attraction. She is caught off guard when she sees him at a party that she is working at the Kennedy home. You would think that would put an end to Jack’s attraction to Alicia because of social class, but Jack is not deterred and pursues her. Jack is in the political spotlight and all appearances must be perfect in the public eye. When Jack’s father, Joe, finds out that Alicia isn’t who he thought she was he aggressively discourages the relationship. Jack and Alicia continue their relationship secretly, but soon enough Alicia finds herself swimming upstream and realizes she will never be on equal grounds in the Kennedy family and earn their respect.
I liked the first part of the book that deals with the relationship between Jack and Alicia. It’s romantic and a little edgy as Alicia is always looking over her shoulder waiting for her past to catch up to her. When their relationship is absolutely finished, Alicia’s life takes front seat and her tumultuous relationships with a roster of celebrities is spilled on the front pages of gossip magazines.
Is it possible that a baby was conceived during Alicia and Jack’s affair? It seems plausible. When I read historical fiction and I start googling people and places after I finish, I know I’ve just read a great book.
Thank you Michelle Gable, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
Barbara Kopczysnka is an immigrant from Poland. She changes her name to Alicia Darr to assimilate and appear more American. She soon finds employment at the house of the Kennedy’s as a maid. Yes, ‘the’ Kennedy’s. She is also selling her paintings at the local movie house while working there as well. It is at the movie house where she first encounters Jack Kennedy and there is an undeniable attraction. She is caught off guard when she sees him at a party that she is working at the Kennedy home. You would think that would put an end to Jack’s attraction to Alicia because of social class, but Jack is not deterred and pursues her. Jack is in the political spotlight and all appearances must be perfect in the public eye. When Jack’s father, Joe, finds out that Alicia isn’t who he thought she was he aggressively discourages the relationship. Jack and Alicia continue their relationship secretly, but soon enough Alicia finds herself swimming upstream and realizes she will never be on equal grounds in the Kennedy family and earn their respect.
I liked the first part of the book that deals with the relationship between Jack and Alicia. It’s romantic and a little edgy as Alicia is always looking over her shoulder waiting for her past to catch up to her. When their relationship is absolutely finished, Alicia’s life takes front seat and her tumultuous relationships with a roster of celebrities is spilled on the front pages of gossip magazines.
Is it possible that a baby was conceived during Alicia and Jack’s affair? It seems plausible. When I read historical fiction and I start googling people and places after I finish, I know I’ve just read a great book.
Thank you Michelle Gable, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
May 29, 2018
I loved this book! Let me preface by saying, I am really not the biggest historical fiction person, even when I love a book that’s historical, it usually takes me a bit to really pick up the pace. The Summer I Met Jack was really an exception here, I was hooked from page 1 and I stayed up hours past my usual bedtime to devour every last word. There was no hope of sleep, I had to see how Alicia’s story would play out. I’ve always been intrigued by JFK and the Kennedys, which is why I sought this out, despite knowing how I am sometimes with historical. I was SO invested in the lives of the characters, I was constantly pondering what was based on reality and what was purely fiction - I was asking my mom every step of the way “hey do you remember if this ever happened?” - tears rolled down my eyes as the story ended as I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. Add this to your TBR as it is one you will not want to miss come Spring!
I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
dnf
July 3, 2018I am placing this one on the DNF shelf. I do remember Kennedy and the memories I have are ones of respect and thinking of him as a hero. I was in fourth grade when he was assassinated and I will never forget what that did to all of us. I am sorry that this book to me has blemished that memory and I can't continue to read a book that I believe takes that awe he inspired away in so many away. I am sure that a lot of what the author wrote is true, but I would rather keep my childhood memory in tact.
January 13, 2018
Great piece of historical fiction about the Kennedy clan. I enjoyed it!
December 9, 2017
Michelle has taken on the daunting task of telling a story about the Kennedy family. Everyone of a certain age feels like they know all there is to know about the Kennedys so what could she possibly write about. Boy oh boy, does she show the doubters. She tells the story about a woman who had an affair with JFK in the late 50s who could have changed history. She was someone that I had never heard of and the author's research into the family is so good that I learned more about them than I had ever known. This is a fantastic novel that will keep you thinking about the main character long after you finish it.
In 1950, a young, beautiful Polish refugee arrives in Hyannisport, Massachusetts to work as a maid for the Kennedy, one of the wealthiest families in America. Alicia and Jack Kennedy had met a few weeks earlier at the movie theater she worked at and there was an immediate spark between the two of them. After lots of ups and downs in their relationship. Jack and Alicia became engaged. Once Papa Joe found out that Alicia was actually Jewish, he knew it would derail his plans for his son to be president of the US so he encouraged his son to break off the engagement. Alicia goes to Hollywood and meets lots of famous men but no one can compare to JFK and their love for each other. We all know what happened to JFK and who he married but this book tells the reader what happened to Alicia and the rest of her life.
This is a fantastic book with lots of research to back up the story. Even though I had never heard of Alicia before, I have been on line looking up information about her. It doesn't matter what party affiliation you are, this is a great look at history in our country back in the 50s and 60s. I highly recommend it.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
In 1950, a young, beautiful Polish refugee arrives in Hyannisport, Massachusetts to work as a maid for the Kennedy, one of the wealthiest families in America. Alicia and Jack Kennedy had met a few weeks earlier at the movie theater she worked at and there was an immediate spark between the two of them. After lots of ups and downs in their relationship. Jack and Alicia became engaged. Once Papa Joe found out that Alicia was actually Jewish, he knew it would derail his plans for his son to be president of the US so he encouraged his son to break off the engagement. Alicia goes to Hollywood and meets lots of famous men but no one can compare to JFK and their love for each other. We all know what happened to JFK and who he married but this book tells the reader what happened to Alicia and the rest of her life.
This is a fantastic book with lots of research to back up the story. Even though I had never heard of Alicia before, I have been on line looking up information about her. It doesn't matter what party affiliation you are, this is a great look at history in our country back in the 50s and 60s. I highly recommend it.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
March 14, 2018
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub. Date: May 29, 2018
The book’s blurb reads, “Based on a real story - in 1950, a young, beautiful Polish refugee arrives in Hyannisport, Massachusetts to work as a maid for one of the wealthiest families in America.” The family is the Kennedys. Of course, the Jack in the title is a young Jack Kennedy. I was disappointed in this book, but it may be my own fault. I thought I was reading historical fiction and not women’s fiction. The story reads close to a romance novel, which is a genre I do not care for. I did read and like the “The Paris Apartment,” also by Michelle Gable. In “Apartment,” Gable wrote a similar type of book. She wove together a tale of romance and mystery, to become a past and present page-turner. However, I went into that book knowing what I was about to read.
This book is based on the true events from the life of American socialite Alicia Corning Clark, married to Alfred Corning Clark who was a Singer Sewing Machine heir. We first meet Alicia soon after she leaves Poland in the late 1940s and arrives in the United States as a displaced person. To begin fresh, she changes her name from Barbara Kopczynska to Alica Darr (and then, by marriage, to Alicia Corning Clark)." Corning Clark lived a life that should have been a movie. She had more lives than a cat. In Poland, she was a Jewish girl hidden in a convent to escape the Nazis. In the United States, she was a Roman Catholic maid, an aspiring artist, a call girl, and a Hollywood movie star. She was also a woman whom J. Edgar Hoover insisted was paid by the Kennedys to keep her affair with JFK, and their possible love child, out of the headlines. An interesting tidbit for me is that I once again was able to read about a Singer Sewing Machine heir. I first read about Pairs Singer in the historical fiction “Isadora” by Amelia Gray. Alfred Corning Clark’s father was partners with Paris’ father, Isaac Singer. In real life, it was Corning Clark who changed Darr into a wealthy, respectable society woman. Both men lived a life filled with scandals. Who knew there is so much dirt revolving around the Singers? Sort of like the Kennedys.
Darr’s real-life story is one reason why I did not give up on the book. That and the Kennedys. My interest was constantly re-sparked: Was Rose Kennedy really an odd duck and a cold mother? Was Joe Sr. really a Nazi sympathizer? Was Bobby really a dislikable man? Not to mention, the family connections to the mafia, or the rumor that they had Marilyn Monroe being murdered before she could expose that she was sleeping with both Bobby and Jack. (I did chuckle when reading that Jackie put a poster of Monroe over Jack’s bed. Wonder if that was true?) And so on and so forth with all the Kennedy rumors.
Gable lists extensive research for this novel in her end-notes, which is always a plus. Her most moving writing moments are when she is describing JFK’s painful long suffering due to being born with Addison’s disease, a condition that is life-threatening when the adrenal glands fail to manufacture adequate amounts of essential hormones. It was imperative to the Kennedys that Jack presents an image of robust good health. Naturally, they denied his medical condition, as well as playing down his back problems due to a degenerative disc disease. What is it about the Kennedy clan that still pulls us in? Whatever it is, it helped this reviewer overlook the story’s melodrama, the Hollywood celebrity name-dropping, and the exotic romance settings to find the historical fiction hidden inside. I am glad that I did.
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
Find all my book reviews at:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list
Leave Me Alone I am Reading & Reviewing: https://books6259.wordpress.com/
Twitter: Martie’s Book Reviews: https://twitter.com/NeesRecord
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub. Date: May 29, 2018
The book’s blurb reads, “Based on a real story - in 1950, a young, beautiful Polish refugee arrives in Hyannisport, Massachusetts to work as a maid for one of the wealthiest families in America.” The family is the Kennedys. Of course, the Jack in the title is a young Jack Kennedy. I was disappointed in this book, but it may be my own fault. I thought I was reading historical fiction and not women’s fiction. The story reads close to a romance novel, which is a genre I do not care for. I did read and like the “The Paris Apartment,” also by Michelle Gable. In “Apartment,” Gable wrote a similar type of book. She wove together a tale of romance and mystery, to become a past and present page-turner. However, I went into that book knowing what I was about to read.
This book is based on the true events from the life of American socialite Alicia Corning Clark, married to Alfred Corning Clark who was a Singer Sewing Machine heir. We first meet Alicia soon after she leaves Poland in the late 1940s and arrives in the United States as a displaced person. To begin fresh, she changes her name from Barbara Kopczynska to Alica Darr (and then, by marriage, to Alicia Corning Clark)." Corning Clark lived a life that should have been a movie. She had more lives than a cat. In Poland, she was a Jewish girl hidden in a convent to escape the Nazis. In the United States, she was a Roman Catholic maid, an aspiring artist, a call girl, and a Hollywood movie star. She was also a woman whom J. Edgar Hoover insisted was paid by the Kennedys to keep her affair with JFK, and their possible love child, out of the headlines. An interesting tidbit for me is that I once again was able to read about a Singer Sewing Machine heir. I first read about Pairs Singer in the historical fiction “Isadora” by Amelia Gray. Alfred Corning Clark’s father was partners with Paris’ father, Isaac Singer. In real life, it was Corning Clark who changed Darr into a wealthy, respectable society woman. Both men lived a life filled with scandals. Who knew there is so much dirt revolving around the Singers? Sort of like the Kennedys.
Darr’s real-life story is one reason why I did not give up on the book. That and the Kennedys. My interest was constantly re-sparked: Was Rose Kennedy really an odd duck and a cold mother? Was Joe Sr. really a Nazi sympathizer? Was Bobby really a dislikable man? Not to mention, the family connections to the mafia, or the rumor that they had Marilyn Monroe being murdered before she could expose that she was sleeping with both Bobby and Jack. (I did chuckle when reading that Jackie put a poster of Monroe over Jack’s bed. Wonder if that was true?) And so on and so forth with all the Kennedy rumors.
Gable lists extensive research for this novel in her end-notes, which is always a plus. Her most moving writing moments are when she is describing JFK’s painful long suffering due to being born with Addison’s disease, a condition that is life-threatening when the adrenal glands fail to manufacture adequate amounts of essential hormones. It was imperative to the Kennedys that Jack presents an image of robust good health. Naturally, they denied his medical condition, as well as playing down his back problems due to a degenerative disc disease. What is it about the Kennedy clan that still pulls us in? Whatever it is, it helped this reviewer overlook the story’s melodrama, the Hollywood celebrity name-dropping, and the exotic romance settings to find the historical fiction hidden inside. I am glad that I did.
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
Find all my book reviews at:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list
Leave Me Alone I am Reading & Reviewing: https://books6259.wordpress.com/
Twitter: Martie’s Book Reviews: https://twitter.com/NeesRecord
April 13, 2018
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway! Whoo-hooo!!
This is my third book by this author and I did enjoy it. I would love to know more about what is real and what is fiction. I realize the little details can't all be real, but I believe the author was very meticulous about her research and you feel that in the story.
A lot of people are fascinated by the Kennedy family and this is just another piece of that puzzle! A not well known tale which makes it even more fascinating and how it all ended was understandable, but sad all the same. I applaud this author for discovering Alicia Darr and introducing her to us!
You get an inside look at Joe and Rose Kennedy as well as a different view of the children (at least I did). The ending of the book is not depressing. I just wish Alicia had a happier life is all. She definitely paid her dues for loving JFK.
If you love reading about the Kennedy family or you enjoy historical fiction, this is worth your time!
This is my third book by this author and I did enjoy it. I would love to know more about what is real and what is fiction. I realize the little details can't all be real, but I believe the author was very meticulous about her research and you feel that in the story.
A lot of people are fascinated by the Kennedy family and this is just another piece of that puzzle! A not well known tale which makes it even more fascinating and how it all ended was understandable, but sad all the same. I applaud this author for discovering Alicia Darr and introducing her to us!
You get an inside look at Joe and Rose Kennedy as well as a different view of the children (at least I did). The ending of the book is not depressing. I just wish Alicia had a happier life is all. She definitely paid her dues for loving JFK.
If you love reading about the Kennedy family or you enjoy historical fiction, this is worth your time!
February 2, 2018
I really enjoyed reading me uncorrected copy of THE SUMMER I MEET JACK which is a fictionalized account of the life of Alicia Darr. This novel primarily take place in the 1950's and 60's. Alicia had quite an interesting life. Originally from Poland, Alicia meets JFK while living and working on the east coast. Next, Hollywood, and a ton of names are dropped along the way! If you are looking for an entertaining read, look no farther. I received this book for an honest review.
On sale 5/22/18
On sale 5/22/18
May 30, 2018
This novel incorporating an unlikely romance between a poor Polish immigrant and America’s 35th President JFK was a page-turner. It often had me pausing to wonder what was truth and what was fiction. I read the book in just a few days and it piqued my interest to learn more about the real Alicia Corning Clark. The character on which she is based truly comes to life; Alicia’s strength of spirit and culture shine through.
The Kennedy’s are portrayed quite negatively and early on I tired of John F Kennedy being depicted repetitively as a sex maniac charmer. It gave me pause and overshadowed some of the high points as our 35th president rose through the ranks from junior congressman.
There are some surprises. One that stands out was learning that JFK sought the Presidential nomination by ‘default’ after his older brother Joe died in the war. To think our world could have progressed very differently if our top dog decision maker was different during these very volatile years. Thanks St.Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Kennedy’s are portrayed quite negatively and early on I tired of John F Kennedy being depicted repetitively as a sex maniac charmer. It gave me pause and overshadowed some of the high points as our 35th president rose through the ranks from junior congressman.
There are some surprises. One that stands out was learning that JFK sought the Presidential nomination by ‘default’ after his older brother Joe died in the war. To think our world could have progressed very differently if our top dog decision maker was different during these very volatile years. Thanks St.Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2018
A fascinating look at the Kennedy family, Jack and Alicia Corning Clark. Could not put this one down. Amazing attention to details.
June 18, 2018
Barbara, now Alicia Darr, has left Poland and arrives in the USA with many hopes and dreams in the 1950s. She rooms with another immigrant, Irenka, and they become fast friends. Irenka takes a job on the East Coast working as a maid in the affluent town of Hyannisport for the famous Kennedy family. Alicia follows Irenka to the Hyannisport and through Irenka she meets Jack along with the whole Kennedy clan. She is enamored with the family, but especially Jack's charm and larger than life attitude. As time goes by, Jack is also very much into Alicia as she is unlike any woman he has met before. Things become serious between the two, but will the Kennedy family truly accept Alicia into their family? Can Jack really defy his father? And just wait till the Kennedys find out who she truly is. The Summer I Met Jack by Michelle Gable focuses not only Alicia and Jack's courtship, but Jack's political career as well as Alicia's amazing life. Fans of the Kennedys as well as historical fiction will absolutely love this "historical beach read."
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
June 13, 2018
Quite a fascinating little story. I read most of this while on a Florida beach. A perfect vacation read for summer 2018. 4 stars!
Alicia falls in love with Jack Kennedy one summer where she meets him selling popcorn at a movie theater. He's a flirt. She is smitten. It's fun and engaging. I am not sure how much of it all is true. Gable did a lot of research and it is a great story, even if some of it is fabricated.
I thought it well written and easy to read. There is a lot in here about the Kennedys. But it is more than that too. When Alicia and Jack cannot marry she moves on and builds a life for herself in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. But Jack is always with her.....If you have looked up anything on this you will know it is believed that she had a baby that was Jack's. It was kept pretty quiet. There is a lot of scandal here and who doesn't like a good scandal? Blackmail, the Mob, and more. I enjoyed reading about the actors and other people she was involved with through the years. It is an interesting story and one I knew little about and am glad I read it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to read in exchange for a review. I highly recommend it!
Alicia falls in love with Jack Kennedy one summer where she meets him selling popcorn at a movie theater. He's a flirt. She is smitten. It's fun and engaging. I am not sure how much of it all is true. Gable did a lot of research and it is a great story, even if some of it is fabricated.
I thought it well written and easy to read. There is a lot in here about the Kennedys. But it is more than that too. When Alicia and Jack cannot marry she moves on and builds a life for herself in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. But Jack is always with her.....If you have looked up anything on this you will know it is believed that she had a baby that was Jack's. It was kept pretty quiet. There is a lot of scandal here and who doesn't like a good scandal? Blackmail, the Mob, and more. I enjoyed reading about the actors and other people she was involved with through the years. It is an interesting story and one I knew little about and am glad I read it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to read in exchange for a review. I highly recommend it!
July 10, 2019
2 stars, only because the second half of this book was better (more interesting) than the first half. I disliked Alicia Darr Purdom Corning Clark, or the author's portrayal of her, especially for her audacity and her self-centered nature. I also don't believe for a minute that any man gushes directly to a woman that she's gorgeous or a "pretty thing" - ugh, gag! There is no way that this woman could have easily schmoozed and made friends with American royalty regardless of her motivations, especially when her own status was so precarious.
Long story short: this woman was slightly delusional and thought she was special. She turned out to be the gold-digger that balked at anyone who dared to call her out on it.
The saving grace for this book for me was that the second half of the book was slightly more interesting and glitzy and resembled "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" which I loved.
It could have done without the present-day tie-in which fell completely flat.
Long story short: this woman was slightly delusional and thought she was special. She turned out to be the gold-digger that balked at anyone who dared to call her out on it.
The saving grace for this book for me was that the second half of the book was slightly more interesting and glitzy and resembled "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" which I loved.
It could have done without the present-day tie-in which fell completely flat.
May 30, 2018
Most people know who John F Kennedy was and can probably name a fact or two about him. President. First Catholic president. Assassinated president. Democrat. Bostonian. War hero. Hyannisport yachtsman. Rich Playboy. Womanizer.
I think it’s safe to say that he is one of the most recognizable presidents in modern memory. For me personally I am not a huge fan of the post war America time period but I was intrigued by this novel. Though I know quite a bit about JFK in a professional sense–I am more intrigued by his personal life than his politics.
When this book came up for review many many months ago, I was eager to read it mostly because it was a different period than I normally read but also because I was intrigued by his love life. Most Americans know of his alleged affair with Marilyn Monroe but who was this Alicia Darr person? I had no idea and was thus interested to learn something new.
While this is a fictionalized account of their relationship, it is rooted in real life.
I don’t even know where to begin with this one. So right out of the gate, I gotta say this was a great read. The writing was wonderful. I loved who everything flowed together and the plot was well thought out and the language of the time period was spot on. Clearly the author has a love for post war Americana and I loved how that was front and center in this story.
This was a book that read a little like a Lifetime movie but in a good way. From the start I was intrigued by the plot…..rich and famous future leader of the free world meets random popcorn girl and begins torrid affair??? How does that happen???? How was this going to play out???? I had never heard of Alicia Darr prior to this book so I was very interested in how this was all going to go.
While I loved the writing I really didn’t care for either character…..like at all. Yet I couldn’t stop reading this book! I was hooked on it like a soap opera for a number of reasons but mostly because the characters were so flawed and so clearly wrong for each other but yet they soldiered on and I couldn’t be more intrigued by how this was going to end.
I loved the glamorous backdrop of Hyannisport. My sister lives in Boston and has been out to the cape many times and it never ceases to capture my interest. Hyannisport really screams political old money all thanks to the Kennedy’s and the author capitalized on that with this book and it worked so well.
In my opinion Jack Kennedy was a complete asshole. I was so put off by his character yet like so many women, there was something I found charming about him. Maybe it was his moodiness or his confidence but while I couldn’t stand him in the book, I could understand why so many women would easily fall victim to his charm. I thought the author did a great job at making him a jerk but yet as a reader I had hope that he was actually being genuine and honest. But seriously though—-what an asshole! Entitled and couldn’t keep it in his pants! Yet as I said, there was something that kept drawing me to his character and I think that the author did a great job at portraying this for the audience. I mean isn’t that the idea…..he’s a jerk but yet a charismatic jerk.
Alicia was completely blind when it came to Jack. The whole time I was reading all I could think of was HELLO WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?! Don’t you see what he’s doing?!? Can’t you see his lies?!? But again, like so many women she was blind to his nature. I personally felt like Alicia was opportunistic and I never really felt sympathy for her or her situations. She survived occupied Poland and went to work in camps, so we are meant to feel sympathy for her but for some reason I just didn’t. She clearly did what she had to do in order to survive and she took every opportunity that came her way. Like so many her tragic situation made her more driven than the average person so in some ways I felt she was selfish and at the same time gullible which was a frustrating combination.
Together these two were a recipe for disaster. I don’t know how much of their relationship is real and how much has been altered for this book but either way it’s clear that these two were not meant to be a long term item.
As I said, I had a hard time putting this one down because it felt like a total indulgence. I loved the glitz and glamor of America’s ‘royal’ family and how the author used the period to add a sense of nostalgia for a more glamorous time for the audience. The relationship between Alicia and Jack started before he was elected president so it had this sense of calm before the storm which I loved. Knowing the history of JFK and how things ultimately turned out for him added a lot of foreshadowing in this books and I just loved it.
Beautiful story telling with a candid view of the complicated family life behind America’s most well known president. This was the perfect way to kick off my summer reading and over Memorial Day weekend when I start to really long for those warm nights and golden days!
See my full review here
I think it’s safe to say that he is one of the most recognizable presidents in modern memory. For me personally I am not a huge fan of the post war America time period but I was intrigued by this novel. Though I know quite a bit about JFK in a professional sense–I am more intrigued by his personal life than his politics.
When this book came up for review many many months ago, I was eager to read it mostly because it was a different period than I normally read but also because I was intrigued by his love life. Most Americans know of his alleged affair with Marilyn Monroe but who was this Alicia Darr person? I had no idea and was thus interested to learn something new.
While this is a fictionalized account of their relationship, it is rooted in real life.
I don’t even know where to begin with this one. So right out of the gate, I gotta say this was a great read. The writing was wonderful. I loved who everything flowed together and the plot was well thought out and the language of the time period was spot on. Clearly the author has a love for post war Americana and I loved how that was front and center in this story.
This was a book that read a little like a Lifetime movie but in a good way. From the start I was intrigued by the plot…..rich and famous future leader of the free world meets random popcorn girl and begins torrid affair??? How does that happen???? How was this going to play out???? I had never heard of Alicia Darr prior to this book so I was very interested in how this was all going to go.
While I loved the writing I really didn’t care for either character…..like at all. Yet I couldn’t stop reading this book! I was hooked on it like a soap opera for a number of reasons but mostly because the characters were so flawed and so clearly wrong for each other but yet they soldiered on and I couldn’t be more intrigued by how this was going to end.
I loved the glamorous backdrop of Hyannisport. My sister lives in Boston and has been out to the cape many times and it never ceases to capture my interest. Hyannisport really screams political old money all thanks to the Kennedy’s and the author capitalized on that with this book and it worked so well.
In my opinion Jack Kennedy was a complete asshole. I was so put off by his character yet like so many women, there was something I found charming about him. Maybe it was his moodiness or his confidence but while I couldn’t stand him in the book, I could understand why so many women would easily fall victim to his charm. I thought the author did a great job at making him a jerk but yet as a reader I had hope that he was actually being genuine and honest. But seriously though—-what an asshole! Entitled and couldn’t keep it in his pants! Yet as I said, there was something that kept drawing me to his character and I think that the author did a great job at portraying this for the audience. I mean isn’t that the idea…..he’s a jerk but yet a charismatic jerk.
Alicia was completely blind when it came to Jack. The whole time I was reading all I could think of was HELLO WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?! Don’t you see what he’s doing?!? Can’t you see his lies?!? But again, like so many women she was blind to his nature. I personally felt like Alicia was opportunistic and I never really felt sympathy for her or her situations. She survived occupied Poland and went to work in camps, so we are meant to feel sympathy for her but for some reason I just didn’t. She clearly did what she had to do in order to survive and she took every opportunity that came her way. Like so many her tragic situation made her more driven than the average person so in some ways I felt she was selfish and at the same time gullible which was a frustrating combination.
Together these two were a recipe for disaster. I don’t know how much of their relationship is real and how much has been altered for this book but either way it’s clear that these two were not meant to be a long term item.
As I said, I had a hard time putting this one down because it felt like a total indulgence. I loved the glitz and glamor of America’s ‘royal’ family and how the author used the period to add a sense of nostalgia for a more glamorous time for the audience. The relationship between Alicia and Jack started before he was elected president so it had this sense of calm before the storm which I loved. Knowing the history of JFK and how things ultimately turned out for him added a lot of foreshadowing in this books and I just loved it.
Beautiful story telling with a candid view of the complicated family life behind America’s most well known president. This was the perfect way to kick off my summer reading and over Memorial Day weekend when I start to really long for those warm nights and golden days!
See my full review here
November 9, 2018
An exciting and little-known tale about a beautiful Polish refugee who comes to America and works for the Kennedy family. She finds herself drawn into a passionate relationship with a young JFK with costs and repercussions that echo through the decades.
May 25, 2018
Full review to be posted on blog.
*Loved this book - so engaging, very readable, very interesting!
*Knew nothing about Alicia prior to reading this...but found her to be such a fascinating person.
*Whole time I was reading, kept asking myself - was this true, did this really happen - but refrained from checking Wikipedia - wanted to enjoy book for what it was - so glad I did!
*Book is definitely about romance between Jack & Alicia, but it's also so much more than just that.
*I definitely plan on reading more about Alicia and about the Kennedys - who I am obsessed with!!!
*Highly recommend!!!
*Loved this book - so engaging, very readable, very interesting!
*Knew nothing about Alicia prior to reading this...but found her to be such a fascinating person.
*Whole time I was reading, kept asking myself - was this true, did this really happen - but refrained from checking Wikipedia - wanted to enjoy book for what it was - so glad I did!
*Book is definitely about romance between Jack & Alicia, but it's also so much more than just that.
*I definitely plan on reading more about Alicia and about the Kennedys - who I am obsessed with!!!
*Highly recommend!!!
April 12, 2018
First of all, it is important to note this a historical fiction book based on a Polish refugee who came to America and worked as a maid in the home of the Kennedy family in Hynnaisport, Massachusetts. Alicia Corning Clark claimed to have an affair with JFK and this book imagines what might have taken place and what would have happened if their romance produced a child.
You don't have to be a big fan of the Kennedy family to enjoy this book because if anything it doesn't paint them in the best light. And by that I mean it certainly highlights the Kennedy men and their roving eyes and this idea of being able to do whatever they wanted and get away with it. I thought the author did a good job in taking some factual information and then using her creative side to come up with a pretty solid work of historical fiction. This one definitely held my interest. My only criticism is I thought the latter half of the book wasn't as solid as the rest. In particular, I thought Alicia's friendship with Katherine Hepburn was a weak part in the story as it felt odd and unnatural even if Alicia was truly friends with her in real life. Overall, this was a fun read and I recommend if you like historical fiction.
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
You don't have to be a big fan of the Kennedy family to enjoy this book because if anything it doesn't paint them in the best light. And by that I mean it certainly highlights the Kennedy men and their roving eyes and this idea of being able to do whatever they wanted and get away with it. I thought the author did a good job in taking some factual information and then using her creative side to come up with a pretty solid work of historical fiction. This one definitely held my interest. My only criticism is I thought the latter half of the book wasn't as solid as the rest. In particular, I thought Alicia's friendship with Katherine Hepburn was a weak part in the story as it felt odd and unnatural even if Alicia was truly friends with her in real life. Overall, this was a fun read and I recommend if you like historical fiction.
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
May 25, 2018
I want to express my appreciation to St. Martins Press and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this book.
As soon as I saw this book advertised in Shelf Awareness I knew I wanted to read it. Since childhood I have had a heightened interest in JFK and Camelot. This book explores the era before Camelot and sheds light on the inner workings of the Kennedy family. Book catnip for me to be sure.
Alicia Darr (one of the many names she went by in her lifetime) is in Hyannisport to join a fellow Polish refugee as a maid for the Kennedy family. From her description she had a bit of a Marilyn Monroe look although with more refinement (she knew six languages) and slimmer. She meet Jack and her life is never the same. Reading Alicia's story gives astonishing glimpses into the lives of the rich and famous in Hollywood in Rome. Many famous names are dropped as supporting characters in Alicia's story. I commend the author on her extensive research --she read 200 books about the Kennedy family and people who were in their orbit. I especially appreciated her piece about JFK at the end giving us a final objective look at a man who dies too young.
As soon as I saw this book advertised in Shelf Awareness I knew I wanted to read it. Since childhood I have had a heightened interest in JFK and Camelot. This book explores the era before Camelot and sheds light on the inner workings of the Kennedy family. Book catnip for me to be sure.
Alicia Darr (one of the many names she went by in her lifetime) is in Hyannisport to join a fellow Polish refugee as a maid for the Kennedy family. From her description she had a bit of a Marilyn Monroe look although with more refinement (she knew six languages) and slimmer. She meet Jack and her life is never the same. Reading Alicia's story gives astonishing glimpses into the lives of the rich and famous in Hollywood in Rome. Many famous names are dropped as supporting characters in Alicia's story. I commend the author on her extensive research --she read 200 books about the Kennedy family and people who were in their orbit. I especially appreciated her piece about JFK at the end giving us a final objective look at a man who dies too young.
February 22, 2018
What is it about the Kennedy clan that still pulls us in? I don’t know about you but there’s a mild obsession with them on my part. The Summer I Met Jack explores the early Kennedys — the pre-president JFK — the Jack that was shouldering the dreams of his father and family since the heir apparent died in WW2.
Jack meets Alicia Darr, an European refugee, in 1951 in Hyannisport. She is drawn into the orbit of the Kennedy clan and Jack, in his own way, did love her....... Gable has written a wonderful story about this love affair and the pull both Jack and Alicia had on each other.
I adored this book and sped through it despite its size. Highly recommend.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the Great Thoughts Ninja Team. All opinions are my own.
Jack meets Alicia Darr, an European refugee, in 1951 in Hyannisport. She is drawn into the orbit of the Kennedy clan and Jack, in his own way, did love her....... Gable has written a wonderful story about this love affair and the pull both Jack and Alicia had on each other.
I adored this book and sped through it despite its size. Highly recommend.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the Great Thoughts Ninja Team. All opinions are my own.
January 16, 2021
The is an historical fiction about Alicia Darr Corning Clark who supposedly was engaged to JFK at one time. Allegedly, Joe Kennedy refused to allow Jack to marry her because she was an immigrant who was born Jewish, and this would hurt his political ambitions for Jack. So Alicia takes off for Hollywood to make a name for herself. According to this book, Alicia and Jack hooked up several times over the years, even after he married Jacqueline Bouvier. Shocking, I know. Alicia marrieds a couple of times, her second marriage being to Alfred Corning Clark, heir to the Singer fortune. Alas, he died 13 days later, leaving Alicia quite wealthy.
The book is told mostly from Alicia’s POV, but also has chapters that take place in 2016, when an attorney is trying to settle Alicia’s estate. The chapters about Alicia portray her as misunderstood, honorable and deeply in love with Jack. They also portray the Kennedys as boorish, foul mouthed and a bunch of louts. None of the Kennedys emerge unscathed, yet Alicia is constantly adjusting her halo. Although I am very much aware that the Kennedys are far from perfect, I found the portrayal of them salacious and offensive. I admire the family, warts and all, and have read many books about them, both fiction and nonfiction. I also grew up in Massachusetts, and have a healthy respect for their service to this country. Even the trashy biographies I have read aren’t as bad as the way they are portrayed in this book. This book is practically character assassination.
When I read historical fiction, I expect some embellishment of the facts, but there is way more fiction than facts in this book. In the author’s notes she writes: “This book is absolutely a work of fiction. I’ve included some scurrilous storylines and accusations but, as with my previous novels, my goal was to make the story plausible.” In that case, for me, she utterly failed. Frankly, there was nothing plausible about what she wrote. Yes, there were rumors that JFK was briefly engaged to her, but his constant alleged pursuit of her, especially during times when he was a high profile politician, is just absurd.
She goes on to say: “I took known facts and filled in the gaps to make the case for what could have happened. In short, this book is my hypothesis. Alas, I write fiction and am not a detective or an investigative reporter. Sometimes I had to fudge a name or date, and the research was often conflicting. Despite the large volume of facts and dates, I made many leaps and assumptions.” Ya think?
Although a dear friend whose opinion I respect recommended this book, and I already wanted to read it, I’m afraid I cannot share in her enthusiasm for it, nor recommend it.
The book is told mostly from Alicia’s POV, but also has chapters that take place in 2016, when an attorney is trying to settle Alicia’s estate. The chapters about Alicia portray her as misunderstood, honorable and deeply in love with Jack. They also portray the Kennedys as boorish, foul mouthed and a bunch of louts. None of the Kennedys emerge unscathed, yet Alicia is constantly adjusting her halo. Although I am very much aware that the Kennedys are far from perfect, I found the portrayal of them salacious and offensive. I admire the family, warts and all, and have read many books about them, both fiction and nonfiction. I also grew up in Massachusetts, and have a healthy respect for their service to this country. Even the trashy biographies I have read aren’t as bad as the way they are portrayed in this book. This book is practically character assassination.
When I read historical fiction, I expect some embellishment of the facts, but there is way more fiction than facts in this book. In the author’s notes she writes: “This book is absolutely a work of fiction. I’ve included some scurrilous storylines and accusations but, as with my previous novels, my goal was to make the story plausible.” In that case, for me, she utterly failed. Frankly, there was nothing plausible about what she wrote. Yes, there were rumors that JFK was briefly engaged to her, but his constant alleged pursuit of her, especially during times when he was a high profile politician, is just absurd.
She goes on to say: “I took known facts and filled in the gaps to make the case for what could have happened. In short, this book is my hypothesis. Alas, I write fiction and am not a detective or an investigative reporter. Sometimes I had to fudge a name or date, and the research was often conflicting. Despite the large volume of facts and dates, I made many leaps and assumptions.” Ya think?
Although a dear friend whose opinion I respect recommended this book, and I already wanted to read it, I’m afraid I cannot share in her enthusiasm for it, nor recommend it.
May 8, 2018
First I want to congratulate the author on the extensive amount of research she did to bring this novel to life. As a reader I appreciate it.
Secondly this novel was great. The Kennedy family has always been a family with a mysterious hold on the American people. In an era where handsome faces and beautiful women entertained us money above all talked. The Kennedys are nasty people!
I loved Alicia. She was a person who had to lie to survive. And she did so gracefully and advantageously. It saddened me that she died alone bc she had a huge heart.
I am captivated by this era and love that historical fiction is exploring it more.
Good read.
Secondly this novel was great. The Kennedy family has always been a family with a mysterious hold on the American people. In an era where handsome faces and beautiful women entertained us money above all talked. The Kennedys are nasty people!
I loved Alicia. She was a person who had to lie to survive. And she did so gracefully and advantageously. It saddened me that she died alone bc she had a huge heart.
I am captivated by this era and love that historical fiction is exploring it more.
Good read.
February 3, 2018
Based on the Kennedy family’s maid and her affair with JFK, and then some, this story was full of everything I needed for a cold winters read. Full of glitz, name dropping, and multiple celebrity affairs ... who would’ve guessed that it was based on reality! From Hyannisport to Hollywood, it was an excellent read that kept me with my nose buried in the book and not wanting to put it down. A definite must read for every Kennedy fan! **I received this as an ARC giveaway from Goodreads.**
December 11, 2017
This book is full of the glitz and glamour of the stars of the time, and the dark underbelly of the Kennedy clan. But it also has a touch of my favorite period of historical fiction, the stories of girls/women of WWII. I could have kept reading about the life of Alicia for so much longer and sort of wish it had been kept at its original epic length.
March 18, 2018
I loved Gable’s previous books, but really forced myself to finish this one. The portrayal of Alicia Darr as JFK’s lover seemed to focus on the worst qualities of both people. The characters were unlikeable, and although I am sure based on a lot of research, focused on a lot of gossip and Hollywood name dropping. Not recommended.
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