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The Girl in White Gloves: A Novel of Grace Kelly
Some women make headlines; an icon defies them.
A vivid reimagining of the exhilarating and sensationalized life of Princess Grace of Monaco from the acclaimed author of The Kennedy Debutante.
Hungry for her art and hopeful for the future, young Grace Kelly has the world at her feet. MGM's rising queen is poised to win the Oscar, but she chafes at the studio's increasing restrictions on her life. When an unexpected friendship develops between her and Prince Rainier of Monaco, she faces the tempting possibility of a new role--one that offers the power and stability she craves.
But life isn't like the movies. Twenty years into her crumbling marriage, Grace finds herself frustrated and disillusioned. Conflicted by notions of family, career, and the very nature of womanhood--notions Grace herself shaped for a generation of women--the world's loneliest princess searches for purpose beyond the labels and headlines.
A Hollywood darling, a fairy-tale princess, and a wife starved for autonomy, Grace Kelly is a woman divided. And though she is confined by public perception and societal conventions, one thing is certain--she will never bow to them.
A vivid reimagining of the exhilarating and sensationalized life of Princess Grace of Monaco from the acclaimed author of The Kennedy Debutante.
Hungry for her art and hopeful for the future, young Grace Kelly has the world at her feet. MGM's rising queen is poised to win the Oscar, but she chafes at the studio's increasing restrictions on her life. When an unexpected friendship develops between her and Prince Rainier of Monaco, she faces the tempting possibility of a new role--one that offers the power and stability she craves.
But life isn't like the movies. Twenty years into her crumbling marriage, Grace finds herself frustrated and disillusioned. Conflicted by notions of family, career, and the very nature of womanhood--notions Grace herself shaped for a generation of women--the world's loneliest princess searches for purpose beyond the labels and headlines.
A Hollywood darling, a fairy-tale princess, and a wife starved for autonomy, Grace Kelly is a woman divided. And though she is confined by public perception and societal conventions, one thing is certain--she will never bow to them.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2020
409 people are currently reading
11112 people want to read
About the author
Kerri Maher
7 books981 followersKERRI MAHER is the USA Today bestselling author of four historical novels including THE PARIS BOOKSELLER and ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL. Often listed in most-anticipated and best-of lists, her novels have been described as "gorgeous" (Beatriz Williams) and "storytelling at its finest" (NPR). She also wrote a memoir of her writing life under the name Kerri Majors, THIS IS NOT A WRITING MANUAL. Signed copies of her books are available through Wellesley Books.
She loves to connect with readers personally on Instagram and her Substack newsletter, "sandcastles with kerri maher."
She loves to connect with readers personally on Instagram and her Substack newsletter, "sandcastles with kerri maher."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 487 reviews
April 30, 2020
The Girl in White Gloves by Kerri Maher is a 2020 Berkley publication
A must read for fans of the incomparable Grace Kelly!
In my mind, Grace Kelly has always been an actress first, a princess second. I have had to remind myself that she married the Prince of Monaco, giving her the official title of ‘Princess Grace’ but, effectively ending her promising career. I’m probably in the minority on that. While I do have a small interest in royal watching- it’s not the glamour so much as it is the history that fuels my curiosity.
Having watched all her movies, multiple times, I might add, I believe Grace lived up to her name, which couldn’t have been more fitting. She was so pretty, graceful, and elegant, she already seemed like American royalty- so, I suppose it was also fitting that she ended up married to a prince. It all seemed so romantic and like a fairytale come true- but alas, perhaps it wasn’t the happily ever she had hoped for…
This book is a fictionalized account of Grace’s life, examining her complicated family dynamics, her rise to fame, her various friendships and romantic relationships, and an imagined glimpse inside her marriage to the Prince of Monaco.
The author did a magnificent job in bringing Grace’s life into sharp focus. Although this is a work of fiction, I did get a sense of what kind of person she was behind her iconic roles, her public persona, and behind the title of ‘Princess Grace of Monaco’. Her mystique and poise made her a fan favorite for both men and women alike, but her life wasn’t as charmed it appeared from the outside looking in.
Unfortunately, the men her life, especially her father and husband, often sucked the joy out of her achievements, or robbed her of reaching her full potential. So, although Americans loved the idea of Grace Kelly and the image she projected, the reality behind the fairy tale reveals a complex, conflicted woman behind the grand myth, one who longed for personal fulfillment, but suffered her disappointments silently.
The book is well -researched and organized. It is triumphant, fascinating, poignant, bittersweet, and redemptive. This is a very absorbing saga, and I learned things about Grace I did not know and wish she had been respected and honored as much in her private life as she was in her public one.
Highly recommend for fans of Grace Kelly, for royal enthusiast, and biographical historical fiction!
A must read for fans of the incomparable Grace Kelly!
In my mind, Grace Kelly has always been an actress first, a princess second. I have had to remind myself that she married the Prince of Monaco, giving her the official title of ‘Princess Grace’ but, effectively ending her promising career. I’m probably in the minority on that. While I do have a small interest in royal watching- it’s not the glamour so much as it is the history that fuels my curiosity.
Having watched all her movies, multiple times, I might add, I believe Grace lived up to her name, which couldn’t have been more fitting. She was so pretty, graceful, and elegant, she already seemed like American royalty- so, I suppose it was also fitting that she ended up married to a prince. It all seemed so romantic and like a fairytale come true- but alas, perhaps it wasn’t the happily ever she had hoped for…
This book is a fictionalized account of Grace’s life, examining her complicated family dynamics, her rise to fame, her various friendships and romantic relationships, and an imagined glimpse inside her marriage to the Prince of Monaco.
The author did a magnificent job in bringing Grace’s life into sharp focus. Although this is a work of fiction, I did get a sense of what kind of person she was behind her iconic roles, her public persona, and behind the title of ‘Princess Grace of Monaco’. Her mystique and poise made her a fan favorite for both men and women alike, but her life wasn’t as charmed it appeared from the outside looking in.
Unfortunately, the men her life, especially her father and husband, often sucked the joy out of her achievements, or robbed her of reaching her full potential. So, although Americans loved the idea of Grace Kelly and the image she projected, the reality behind the fairy tale reveals a complex, conflicted woman behind the grand myth, one who longed for personal fulfillment, but suffered her disappointments silently.
The book is well -researched and organized. It is triumphant, fascinating, poignant, bittersweet, and redemptive. This is a very absorbing saga, and I learned things about Grace I did not know and wish she had been respected and honored as much in her private life as she was in her public one.
Highly recommend for fans of Grace Kelly, for royal enthusiast, and biographical historical fiction!
February 28, 2020
4.5 Stars
I am a fangirl of royalty and have always admired Princess Grace of Monaco. She was the epitome of class and grace (no pun intended) and I knew full well she gave up a lot sacrificing her burgeoning film career. I've only read one biography of Princess Grace, but it just covered her life post marriage to Prince Rainier. I knew next to nothing about her early life prior to becoming a royal. However, this is historical fiction. Although very well researched, the author admittedly took some poetic license in writing this novel.
The writing style is comfortable and flowing. I'm ashamed to admit as I first delved into the book I found myself a tad disinterested, and actually toyed with the idea of abandoning it. It seems like a distant memory now, as I truly enjoyed this book after investing the time to get to the "money shot" of when Grace Kelly met Prince Rainier. You see, that must have been my problem. I was waiting the whole time for that moment.
Grace's family dynamics consisted of a complicated relationship with her father, Jack Kelly. Grace always felt slighted by him, that he much preferred and favored her older sister Peggy. Grace grew up in a privileged environment since Jack owned a construction enterprise. She lived in a lovely home (built by Jack's construction company) and they had a beloved driver named Fordie. Grace's uncle George was involved in the entertainment industry, particularly the theater, and he mentored Grace towards her passion. However, Grace's father actually frowned upon her chosen career as an actress, even when she became successful. Both parents disliked all of Grace's boyfriends, all of whom were involved in the entertainment or fashion industry and were much older than she was. Critically, some weren't Catholic like the Kelly family, and even worse, some were divorced or still technically married. I may sound like a prude but I'm being true to myself in that I was really disappointed by the promiscuity of Grace in this book. In her pre-marriage years, it seemed like she slept with every single boyfriend either on the first date or shortly thereafter. She also had an affair with a married actor. I don't actually know if any of this is really true, but I've had an idealized vision of Princess Grace all my life, so these revelations knock her off the proverbial pedestal. Her hunger for sex was such that she provoked Rainier into having pre-marital sex to make sure things were going to be "OK" when they first got engaged. Again, this is historical fiction, so I had to digest all this with a grain of salt.
Another thing I didn't know about Grace was that her first love was acting in theater. This was so crucial to her that she insisted certain time periods be carved out into her film company contracts so that she could act in the New York theater. Speaking of contracts, Grace had a critical eye when reading them and the determination to fight for things that she wanted. Many times she succeeded. However, the hardest contract to swallow was the marriage one, where it clearly stated that in the event of a royal divorce, she would lose the children. This critical point cemented her to the spot in her marriage that may have appeared like a fairytale, but surely was not. I really connected with her thought processes on dealing with Rainier as the years went on, knowing how to navigate his moods and avoid arguments. The dialogue was spot on and read so true. Princess Grace so longed to return to acting, and her anguish was palpable. Through it all, her crowning jewels were her three children who she adored more than anything and thus took precedence.
This book covers the time that Grace launched her career in entertainment, her marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco, and ends with the fateful day she had a stroke while driving with her daughter Princess Stephanie. Touchingly, it also covers her meeting Lady Diana Spencer shortly after her engagement to Prince Charles, and shows Grace's compassion and knowing concerns for what lie ahead for the future Princess. And I'm sure we all can agree, this book has one beautiful cover...doesn't it?!!
A couple of final thoughts: The more I read the book, the more I realized this author's attention to authenticity. For instance, before Grace met Prince Rainier, she adopted a poodle named Oliver. I googled this for images, and up popped a plethora of photos of Grace with Oliver. So cute! Same situation with the author's recounting of the day Grace met Prince Rainier. She described Grace's dress as not being particularly flattering; it had big flowers all over it, etc. If you google images for the day Grace met Prince Rainier, you see the actual photos of her wearing this dress. In both cases, this was a little thrill for me and made me enjoy and trust what I was reading. I would recommend this book for lovers of historical fiction and anyone interested in Princess Grace.
Thank you to Berkley / Penguin Publishing Group who provided an advance reader copy via Edelweiss.
I am a fangirl of royalty and have always admired Princess Grace of Monaco. She was the epitome of class and grace (no pun intended) and I knew full well she gave up a lot sacrificing her burgeoning film career. I've only read one biography of Princess Grace, but it just covered her life post marriage to Prince Rainier. I knew next to nothing about her early life prior to becoming a royal. However, this is historical fiction. Although very well researched, the author admittedly took some poetic license in writing this novel.
The writing style is comfortable and flowing. I'm ashamed to admit as I first delved into the book I found myself a tad disinterested, and actually toyed with the idea of abandoning it. It seems like a distant memory now, as I truly enjoyed this book after investing the time to get to the "money shot" of when Grace Kelly met Prince Rainier. You see, that must have been my problem. I was waiting the whole time for that moment.
Grace's family dynamics consisted of a complicated relationship with her father, Jack Kelly. Grace always felt slighted by him, that he much preferred and favored her older sister Peggy. Grace grew up in a privileged environment since Jack owned a construction enterprise. She lived in a lovely home (built by Jack's construction company) and they had a beloved driver named Fordie. Grace's uncle George was involved in the entertainment industry, particularly the theater, and he mentored Grace towards her passion. However, Grace's father actually frowned upon her chosen career as an actress, even when she became successful. Both parents disliked all of Grace's boyfriends, all of whom were involved in the entertainment or fashion industry and were much older than she was. Critically, some weren't Catholic like the Kelly family, and even worse, some were divorced or still technically married. I may sound like a prude but I'm being true to myself in that I was really disappointed by the promiscuity of Grace in this book. In her pre-marriage years, it seemed like she slept with every single boyfriend either on the first date or shortly thereafter. She also had an affair with a married actor. I don't actually know if any of this is really true, but I've had an idealized vision of Princess Grace all my life, so these revelations knock her off the proverbial pedestal. Her hunger for sex was such that she provoked Rainier into having pre-marital sex to make sure things were going to be "OK" when they first got engaged. Again, this is historical fiction, so I had to digest all this with a grain of salt.
Another thing I didn't know about Grace was that her first love was acting in theater. This was so crucial to her that she insisted certain time periods be carved out into her film company contracts so that she could act in the New York theater. Speaking of contracts, Grace had a critical eye when reading them and the determination to fight for things that she wanted. Many times she succeeded. However, the hardest contract to swallow was the marriage one, where it clearly stated that in the event of a royal divorce, she would lose the children. This critical point cemented her to the spot in her marriage that may have appeared like a fairytale, but surely was not. I really connected with her thought processes on dealing with Rainier as the years went on, knowing how to navigate his moods and avoid arguments. The dialogue was spot on and read so true. Princess Grace so longed to return to acting, and her anguish was palpable. Through it all, her crowning jewels were her three children who she adored more than anything and thus took precedence.
This book covers the time that Grace launched her career in entertainment, her marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco, and ends with the fateful day she had a stroke while driving with her daughter Princess Stephanie. Touchingly, it also covers her meeting Lady Diana Spencer shortly after her engagement to Prince Charles, and shows Grace's compassion and knowing concerns for what lie ahead for the future Princess. And I'm sure we all can agree, this book has one beautiful cover...doesn't it?!!
A couple of final thoughts: The more I read the book, the more I realized this author's attention to authenticity. For instance, before Grace met Prince Rainier, she adopted a poodle named Oliver. I googled this for images, and up popped a plethora of photos of Grace with Oliver. So cute! Same situation with the author's recounting of the day Grace met Prince Rainier. She described Grace's dress as not being particularly flattering; it had big flowers all over it, etc. If you google images for the day Grace met Prince Rainier, you see the actual photos of her wearing this dress. In both cases, this was a little thrill for me and made me enjoy and trust what I was reading. I would recommend this book for lovers of historical fiction and anyone interested in Princess Grace.
Thank you to Berkley / Penguin Publishing Group who provided an advance reader copy via Edelweiss.
May 16, 2021
I listened to this audio. So wonderfully written and narrated. I have been a follower of Royalty since I was a little girl. Unfortunately, I did not discover Princess Grace until after her death (1982.) I began to read many books about her and followed the lives of her beautiful daughters. I was fascinated to learn so much about her after finding out she was a Hollywood movie star who married a real-life Prince and became a Princess. Now this is the stuff of fairy tales especially for a young girl.
I enjoyed discovering and watching her movies and I admired her as a Princess. Of course she was utterly gorgeous and the epitome of class and her name- Grace. A very special kind of lady. I really enjoyed this fictionalized biography. For the most part I believe the author told a very accurate story of Grace's life. I enjoyed her ending credits where she explained where and why she took some liberties with the story. Some of that I think was in how Prince Rainier was portrayed in the book. I do not think he was so uncaring or overbearing to Grace but I do think that he perhaps took her for granted. He was very distraught and sad for many years after her death. Perhaps he did have some guilt over the way he had treated her over the years. He never remarried and always made sure that Grace was forever remembered in the principality. I do believe that he loved her very much. Her son Albert now rules the principality and continues to keep her memory alive. For it is Grace herself, they say who "put Monaco on the map."
I enjoyed discovering and watching her movies and I admired her as a Princess. Of course she was utterly gorgeous and the epitome of class and her name- Grace. A very special kind of lady. I really enjoyed this fictionalized biography. For the most part I believe the author told a very accurate story of Grace's life. I enjoyed her ending credits where she explained where and why she took some liberties with the story. Some of that I think was in how Prince Rainier was portrayed in the book. I do not think he was so uncaring or overbearing to Grace but I do think that he perhaps took her for granted. He was very distraught and sad for many years after her death. Perhaps he did have some guilt over the way he had treated her over the years. He never remarried and always made sure that Grace was forever remembered in the principality. I do believe that he loved her very much. Her son Albert now rules the principality and continues to keep her memory alive. For it is Grace herself, they say who "put Monaco on the map."
February 29, 2020
Would you rather... be a princess or a movie star?
This is a fictionalized biography of Grace Kelly. A girl from Philadelphia who lived her very own fairytale and became a real live princess. But there was so much more to Grace than the glitz, the glamour, and the crown. I really knew very little going into this book about Grace Kelly other than she was once a movie star who married a prints and then was a princess who died in a tragic car accident. Kerri Maher’s vivid storytelling really brought this icon to life for me. Grace really impressed me, she was smart and savvy, knew what she wanted, and went for it. She was brilliant when it came to navigating and negotiating her movie career. Grace was forever wanting her father’s approval and perhaps this led to her multiple affairs with older and sometimes married men. Grace always seem to be searching for acceptance and ultimately wanted to be a wife and mother. I found her so likable and relatable even though her life was way different from mine. I found it interesting how her life somewhat mirrored that of Meghan Markle. I think it is always interesting to see behind the public image. There were some definite parts in the story where my heart broke for Grace, it would be difficult to find out your life is no longer your own. This was an entertaining and engaging story that really gave me a brand new appreciation of Miss Kelly.
This book in emojis 🍸 🎭 🚬 🎬 🐶 👑 🇲🇨
*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
This is a fictionalized biography of Grace Kelly. A girl from Philadelphia who lived her very own fairytale and became a real live princess. But there was so much more to Grace than the glitz, the glamour, and the crown. I really knew very little going into this book about Grace Kelly other than she was once a movie star who married a prints and then was a princess who died in a tragic car accident. Kerri Maher’s vivid storytelling really brought this icon to life for me. Grace really impressed me, she was smart and savvy, knew what she wanted, and went for it. She was brilliant when it came to navigating and negotiating her movie career. Grace was forever wanting her father’s approval and perhaps this led to her multiple affairs with older and sometimes married men. Grace always seem to be searching for acceptance and ultimately wanted to be a wife and mother. I found her so likable and relatable even though her life was way different from mine. I found it interesting how her life somewhat mirrored that of Meghan Markle. I think it is always interesting to see behind the public image. There were some definite parts in the story where my heart broke for Grace, it would be difficult to find out your life is no longer your own. This was an entertaining and engaging story that really gave me a brand new appreciation of Miss Kelly.
This book in emojis 🍸 🎭 🚬 🎬 🐶 👑 🇲🇨
*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
February 25, 2020
Grace Kelly. The story fairy tales are made of right? She’s the Cinderella of my mom’s generation.
Underneath, though, Grace’s life was not perfect. To transform from an actress raised in Philadelphia to a princess was not a seamless transition. Hollywood had been her dream, and she gave it all up for love. She was lonely, confused, and not always happy, though she had to appear to be.
I have read a couple other books featuring Grace Kelly, but not one that went deep inside her possible thoughts and feelings about her life. Grace risked everything she had to become a princess- her family, her career, her independence and freedom.
Overall, I enjoyed this insightful portrayal. I am sure Grace Kelly had multiple layers to her personality and experiences just like we all do. I felt like I got right next to Grace, behind-the-scenes with her, and I could feel her struggles, confusion, and lack of fulfillment. I’m just as enchanted as I was with her before, if not even more so now.
I received a gifted copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Underneath, though, Grace’s life was not perfect. To transform from an actress raised in Philadelphia to a princess was not a seamless transition. Hollywood had been her dream, and she gave it all up for love. She was lonely, confused, and not always happy, though she had to appear to be.
I have read a couple other books featuring Grace Kelly, but not one that went deep inside her possible thoughts and feelings about her life. Grace risked everything she had to become a princess- her family, her career, her independence and freedom.
Overall, I enjoyed this insightful portrayal. I am sure Grace Kelly had multiple layers to her personality and experiences just like we all do. I felt like I got right next to Grace, behind-the-scenes with her, and I could feel her struggles, confusion, and lack of fulfillment. I’m just as enchanted as I was with her before, if not even more so now.
I received a gifted copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
December 4, 2019
3.75 surprising stars
I thought I knew the story of Grace Kelly, but according to this fictionalized tale of her life, I didn’t really know much about her. For example, she really needed to wear glasses full-time, but for appearance sake, she often went without on stage, etc. leaving the crowd a big blur. I also didn’t realize that she was from a wealthy family herself. She also wore gloves much of the time, hence the title of the book.
There were so many famous people that were part of her life, but she seemed very lonely and unfulfilled especially once she became Princess Grace. It was fascinating to read about her life on stage and early days in Hollywood. There were several times that she was a masterful negotiator with her contract and film roles. It’s interesting to think about what she would have done had she not married and moved to Monaco.
The Grace Kelly that I thought I knew was a glamourous film star who became the beloved Princess, but this book does not read like that and is probably closer to the truth. I enjoyed digging deeper into her life with this book. It seemed a bit choppy in parts and a few transitions were not very smooth so that I went back to re-read a page.
Thank you to Book Browse, Kerri Maher, and Berkley for an early copy of this book to read. This one is out on February 25, 2020.
I thought I knew the story of Grace Kelly, but according to this fictionalized tale of her life, I didn’t really know much about her. For example, she really needed to wear glasses full-time, but for appearance sake, she often went without on stage, etc. leaving the crowd a big blur. I also didn’t realize that she was from a wealthy family herself. She also wore gloves much of the time, hence the title of the book.
There were so many famous people that were part of her life, but she seemed very lonely and unfulfilled especially once she became Princess Grace. It was fascinating to read about her life on stage and early days in Hollywood. There were several times that she was a masterful negotiator with her contract and film roles. It’s interesting to think about what she would have done had she not married and moved to Monaco.
The Grace Kelly that I thought I knew was a glamourous film star who became the beloved Princess, but this book does not read like that and is probably closer to the truth. I enjoyed digging deeper into her life with this book. It seemed a bit choppy in parts and a few transitions were not very smooth so that I went back to re-read a page.
Thank you to Book Browse, Kerri Maher, and Berkley for an early copy of this book to read. This one is out on February 25, 2020.
February 9, 2021
I love to read about the Royals. I am just fascinated by it. Grace Kelly was an American Princess in my eyes. I had the opportunity to visit Monaco several years ago. It was just captivating.
I always thought of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier as a fairytale living in the castle. The girl from Philadelphia who became the Princess. I never realized how much she had to sacrifice to achieve this.
All Grace really wanted was love and acceptance from her family. Her father never accepted her choice to be an actress. Her husband treated her like a child. Grace had a very unhappy life but she always put on a happy face and went on with life until her tragic death.
This is the fictional account of Grace Kelly. It is very well written. I just don’t know how much of it is true. Obviously there were many liberties taken in this book. It made want to read more about Grace Kelly.
It would be an excellent book club read, lots to discuss.
I received this ebook from a Goodreads promotion through Amazon.
I always thought of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier as a fairytale living in the castle. The girl from Philadelphia who became the Princess. I never realized how much she had to sacrifice to achieve this.
All Grace really wanted was love and acceptance from her family. Her father never accepted her choice to be an actress. Her husband treated her like a child. Grace had a very unhappy life but she always put on a happy face and went on with life until her tragic death.
This is the fictional account of Grace Kelly. It is very well written. I just don’t know how much of it is true. Obviously there were many liberties taken in this book. It made want to read more about Grace Kelly.
It would be an excellent book club read, lots to discuss.
I received this ebook from a Goodreads promotion through Amazon.
February 14, 2020
We all know who Grace Kelly is. She was on the big screen as an Academy Award-winning actress and big news when she married Prince Rainier and left the glamour of Hollywood to be a real-life princess. It is not surprising to learn that for Grace, her life after the wedding was not the happy-ever-after she might have expected. Real life as royalty is hard and requires sacrifices. This book from Maher is so timely and relevant to news we have seen regarding the British royal family. As Maher reveals in her Author's Notes, this is somewhat in the middle of the continuum between the extremes of complete fiction and biography. As with "The Kennedy Debutante," we get an intimate look inside the dilemmas women face in their time and circumstances. The pacing was a bit choppy, but it was fascinating to see the famous folks that shared the historical stage with Grace. I liked it and am looking forward to discovering more books about her.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2020
DNF – By page 90 I couldn’t stand it anymore.
Some well-known facts are turned into a fallacious exploitation of Grace Kelly.
This is not what I consider ‘historical fiction’.
It is an outrageous maneuver for personal gain at the expense of a now deceased famous person.
Some well-known facts are turned into a fallacious exploitation of Grace Kelly.
This is not what I consider ‘historical fiction’.
It is an outrageous maneuver for personal gain at the expense of a now deceased famous person.
November 20, 2019
From Broadway to Hollywood and onto Monaco, Kerri Maher takes us on the journey of Grace Kelly’s glamorous but all-too short life, filled with love affairs, fame, sacrifices and heartaches. Maher’s lush language effortlessly carries readers along, introducing them to such luminaries as Hitchcock, Oleg Cassini, Clark Gable, Frank Sinatra and Princess Diana while painting the picture of an unforgettable woman. Book clubs will devour this novel. Highly, highly recommended!!!
November 4, 2019
I enjoyed reading THE GIRL IN WHITE GLOVES. Although the author took some liberties with the story, the book feels right. To trade Hollywood for a crown is something hard to realize for an average person. I believe this book helped me understand her life a little more. It is quite amazing to think of all of the famous individuals she knew. I believe most people will enjoy the book as much as I did!
February 27, 2020
I am definitely one of those girls who was guilty of growing up absolutely adoring Grace Kelly. Not that she didn’t deserve that adoration, but I feel guilty that I only based that off of the part I could see—her beauty, her composure, her talent, her glamorous life. As we get older, it can be hard to learn about the sad parts that we didn’t see in so many of these people. Judy Garland is another woman who I grew to truly understand only later, after learning about her life.
Weaving back and forth in time between the 1950s when Grace was at the height of her acting career, and the 1970s when she was established in Monaco married to Prince Rainier, The Girl in White Gloves takes some creative liberties but tells the story of Grace Kelly’s life and her transition from Hollywood golden girl to wife, mother, and princess in Monaco.
Grace’s story is one of a woman trying so hard to meet expectations set by others. I found the dichotomy between the life people thought Grace Kelly had, and the stress and ambition it took to try and maintain that life in some way to be not only enlightening, but relevant. It made me think a lot about the way we present ourselves on social media versus the minutiae of our real lives. Grace Kelly’s life was incredible. What she accomplished is incredible. But the work, worries, and low moments aren’t as visible.
What I loved about the way Kerri Maher wrote this, is that she gave life to the icon that is Grace Kelly in a way that is hard to capture through pure history. She filled in the narrative of her life, and made me feel as a reader like I was getting behind the scenes gossip. It felt salacious and raw. It made me think about Grace Kelly in a way I hadn’t otherwise. I loved the blend of non-fiction with creative license.It isn’t a biography, but it does lend a sense of heart to the lore of a woman who went through many more ups and downs than her life in statistics might show.
This book is lovely, sad, fun, and compulsively readable. A truly great blend of fiction and non-fiction that you’ll find yourself lost in!
Thank you to Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.
Weaving back and forth in time between the 1950s when Grace was at the height of her acting career, and the 1970s when she was established in Monaco married to Prince Rainier, The Girl in White Gloves takes some creative liberties but tells the story of Grace Kelly’s life and her transition from Hollywood golden girl to wife, mother, and princess in Monaco.
Grace’s story is one of a woman trying so hard to meet expectations set by others. I found the dichotomy between the life people thought Grace Kelly had, and the stress and ambition it took to try and maintain that life in some way to be not only enlightening, but relevant. It made me think a lot about the way we present ourselves on social media versus the minutiae of our real lives. Grace Kelly’s life was incredible. What she accomplished is incredible. But the work, worries, and low moments aren’t as visible.
What I loved about the way Kerri Maher wrote this, is that she gave life to the icon that is Grace Kelly in a way that is hard to capture through pure history. She filled in the narrative of her life, and made me feel as a reader like I was getting behind the scenes gossip. It felt salacious and raw. It made me think about Grace Kelly in a way I hadn’t otherwise. I loved the blend of non-fiction with creative license.It isn’t a biography, but it does lend a sense of heart to the lore of a woman who went through many more ups and downs than her life in statistics might show.
This book is lovely, sad, fun, and compulsively readable. A truly great blend of fiction and non-fiction that you’ll find yourself lost in!
Thank you to Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.
February 5, 2020
Grace Kelly was the epitome of style and class, but in this historical fiction account of her life we see the true story behind the fairy tale life she seemed to lead. Born into a wealthy family, Grace was encouraged to achieve success in the things that mattered to her parents, athletics and social status. Finding that her aptitude lay elsewhere, Grace struck out on her own, moving to New York to try and have a career on stage. Eventually, she followed the call to Hollywood and just as her star seemed to have risen, she walked away to marry a real-life prince. With each step she sought independence and control of her own life, only to by thwarted by those around her, who thought they knew what was better for her.
This is a well-researched and beautifully descriptive story of a twentieth century icon; one we all thought we knew, but we only saw what we wanted to see. Though surrounded by the beautiful scenery of Monaco, Grace was trapped in an unhappy marriage, unable to leave because she would lose not just her privileged life, but her very children. Maher presents us with the unhappy reality of Grace Kelly, her bittersweet career, her disappointments, but also her indomitable spirit as she tries to carve out a rewarding and satisfying life for herself.
This story seems very relevant to today’s headlines dealing with the royal family in Great Britain. Well written with a great sense of time and place. It is a satisfying read and one which will appeal to royal watchers or fans of old Hollywood. I highly recommend this one.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
This is a well-researched and beautifully descriptive story of a twentieth century icon; one we all thought we knew, but we only saw what we wanted to see. Though surrounded by the beautiful scenery of Monaco, Grace was trapped in an unhappy marriage, unable to leave because she would lose not just her privileged life, but her very children. Maher presents us with the unhappy reality of Grace Kelly, her bittersweet career, her disappointments, but also her indomitable spirit as she tries to carve out a rewarding and satisfying life for herself.
This story seems very relevant to today’s headlines dealing with the royal family in Great Britain. Well written with a great sense of time and place. It is a satisfying read and one which will appeal to royal watchers or fans of old Hollywood. I highly recommend this one.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
October 29, 2019
Even after all these years have passed, Grace Kelly’s life still remains a source of interest, curiosity, and speculation among readers.
Kerri Maher’s novel is interesting and enjoyable. It’s admirable that she acknowledges that she has speculated about many aspects of Grace’s life, has also adjusted the timelines in certain cases, and advises readers to keep in mind that her account is a novel, with some fictionalized characters and thoughts, and that it is not a biography.
As a novel, this book held my interest and I would recommend it to readers. It genuinely reflects the times in which she lived and provides a glimpse into Hollywood as it existed in the 50’s and 60’s. It also portrays the personal struggles Grace faced as both an actress and a princess.
Thank you to author Kerri Maher, Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House, and to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this book.
Kerri Maher’s novel is interesting and enjoyable. It’s admirable that she acknowledges that she has speculated about many aspects of Grace’s life, has also adjusted the timelines in certain cases, and advises readers to keep in mind that her account is a novel, with some fictionalized characters and thoughts, and that it is not a biography.
As a novel, this book held my interest and I would recommend it to readers. It genuinely reflects the times in which she lived and provides a glimpse into Hollywood as it existed in the 50’s and 60’s. It also portrays the personal struggles Grace faced as both an actress and a princess.
Thank you to author Kerri Maher, Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House, and to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this book.
December 2, 2019
With a deft hand, Maher draws the reader inside the remarkable—yet often lonely—world of one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars, Grace Kelly. Told with great empathy for the woman who made history not only as a gifted actress but as an American princess, THE GIRL IN WHITE GLOVES is a captivating novel of love, family, and the cost of regret. I devoured it one sitting
February 14, 2023
I’ll admit that Grace Kelly wasn’t an actress I knew too much about in my younger days. I actually knew more about her more through her work as the Princess of Monaco and charity works. When I got into my teens I wanted to know more about her and learned she was an inspiration of Alfred Hitchcock, who I knew of from my parents and love of thrilling movies. She quickly gained my respect for the multifaceted, talented person she was. To this day, I still look for information that might let me learn more about her work as I still feel I don’t know too much about her personally and I forget things over time.When this book appeared I thought it would be a fun historical fiction read and it was. The story really drew me in as I could feel the emotions of Grace always trying to be accepted by her family and others in the world. I’d definitely recommend the audiobook as it really brought to life the acting parts.
November 15, 2019
Is it weird to say this story was both sensational and sad?
Who doesn't want to be a princess, swept up by her prince charming? But at what cost does being a princess come when you are already famous, a Hollywood sweetheart, who is independent and strong and does what she wants and suddenly are expected to be meek and subservient?
Even though I knew most of this story, and yes, a lot of it is fictionalized, this was still so interesting and so fascinating and yes, so sad.
Truly a great novel that I am glad I took a chance on and took time out to read and enjoy. It was well written and well portrayed.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Who doesn't want to be a princess, swept up by her prince charming? But at what cost does being a princess come when you are already famous, a Hollywood sweetheart, who is independent and strong and does what she wants and suddenly are expected to be meek and subservient?
Even though I knew most of this story, and yes, a lot of it is fictionalized, this was still so interesting and so fascinating and yes, so sad.
Truly a great novel that I am glad I took a chance on and took time out to read and enjoy. It was well written and well portrayed.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
February 25, 2020
Thanks #netgalley #berkleypub for a free e ARC of #thegirlinwhitegloves by Kerri Maher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
(This review was first published on my blog)
In this highly fictionalized biographical historical fiction of the life of an American actress turned princess, we get a glimpse into Grace Kelly‘s childhood dreams, her rise to fame, and her eventual royal life as Princess of Monaco.
Like many Grace Kelly fans, I had a romanticized, idealized image of the glamorous Grace Kelly. This story dispells those perceptions and I was left with feelings of sadness. It seems that Grace Kelly struggled with finding her voice, feeling self-confident, realizing her career goals, and establishing a loving, mutually respectful relationship. She lived during a time when the silent, subservient girlfriend/wife custom was valued, and most likely, her insecurities contributed to her decisions. I cheered for the times she asserted herself.
Along with her glamor and beauty, Grace Kelly was also driven to perform, loved Broadway, and dreamed of having a family.
From the author’s comments, it seems that some events in the story are rearranged and consolidated to create a tighter timeline. Also, Maher highly imagines a great many of Kelly’s relationships and interactions due to a lack of personal journals and letters. It’s important to recognize the limited amount of source material available while reading The Girl in White Gloves so that you can enjoy the story as presented.
If you love behind-the-scenes peeks into celebrity lives, the glamour of old Hollywood, or have heard of the lovely Grace Kelly, you might enjoy The Girl in White Gloves.
Related: You might also appreciate this engaging and romantic historical fiction story that is set on Monaco during the time of the wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince Ranier: Meet Me in Monaco by Heather Webb and Hazel Gaynor.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com
(This review was first published on my blog)
In this highly fictionalized biographical historical fiction of the life of an American actress turned princess, we get a glimpse into Grace Kelly‘s childhood dreams, her rise to fame, and her eventual royal life as Princess of Monaco.
Like many Grace Kelly fans, I had a romanticized, idealized image of the glamorous Grace Kelly. This story dispells those perceptions and I was left with feelings of sadness. It seems that Grace Kelly struggled with finding her voice, feeling self-confident, realizing her career goals, and establishing a loving, mutually respectful relationship. She lived during a time when the silent, subservient girlfriend/wife custom was valued, and most likely, her insecurities contributed to her decisions. I cheered for the times she asserted herself.
Along with her glamor and beauty, Grace Kelly was also driven to perform, loved Broadway, and dreamed of having a family.
From the author’s comments, it seems that some events in the story are rearranged and consolidated to create a tighter timeline. Also, Maher highly imagines a great many of Kelly’s relationships and interactions due to a lack of personal journals and letters. It’s important to recognize the limited amount of source material available while reading The Girl in White Gloves so that you can enjoy the story as presented.
If you love behind-the-scenes peeks into celebrity lives, the glamour of old Hollywood, or have heard of the lovely Grace Kelly, you might enjoy The Girl in White Gloves.
Related: You might also appreciate this engaging and romantic historical fiction story that is set on Monaco during the time of the wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince Ranier: Meet Me in Monaco by Heather Webb and Hazel Gaynor.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com
December 17, 2019
Long before Meghan Markle, Grace Kelly was America's Princess...
Style, class, panache, radiance…these are just a few words to describe Grace Kelly, who was so aptly named. Kerri Maher takes us on a fictionalized account of Kelly’s life, though she is so thorough, so well-researched, that is difficult at times to remember that this was not an elegant work of non-fiction. From her days as a Hollywood starlet on the brink of cinematic glory, to her illustrious life of service as the Princess of Monaco and all that a life of royalty entails – the luxurious to the stifling – Maher spins a wonderful story that allows us a window into the life of America’s Princess. Any fan of American royals or the golden age of Hollywood would love this book!
Four and a half shining stars and a huge thank you to Book Browse, Kerri Maher, and Berkley Publishing for supplying me with this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Style, class, panache, radiance…these are just a few words to describe Grace Kelly, who was so aptly named. Kerri Maher takes us on a fictionalized account of Kelly’s life, though she is so thorough, so well-researched, that is difficult at times to remember that this was not an elegant work of non-fiction. From her days as a Hollywood starlet on the brink of cinematic glory, to her illustrious life of service as the Princess of Monaco and all that a life of royalty entails – the luxurious to the stifling – Maher spins a wonderful story that allows us a window into the life of America’s Princess. Any fan of American royals or the golden age of Hollywood would love this book!
Four and a half shining stars and a huge thank you to Book Browse, Kerri Maher, and Berkley Publishing for supplying me with this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2019
I fell headlong into this intimate story of iconic Grace Kelly, a complex woman who was so much more than simply a beautiful face. Elegant and romantic, THE GIRL IN WHITE GLOVES depicts an engrossing journey of transformation, complete with familial tension, betrayal, and redemption.
July 9, 2019
The available pages offered were entirely too short; with illustrative quality and immersive writing, the story allowed you to see into Grace Kelly’s life.
It was just enough to leave you wanting more, to find out how she becomes her iconic self, later in life.
Her story is told by intermixing time periods of her life, casting a wide look at her experiences and interactions- this will no doubt be an idea read for fans of The Kennedy Debutante, and those who adore rich historical fiction!
Galley borrowed from the publisher.
It was just enough to leave you wanting more, to find out how she becomes her iconic self, later in life.
Her story is told by intermixing time periods of her life, casting a wide look at her experiences and interactions- this will no doubt be an idea read for fans of The Kennedy Debutante, and those who adore rich historical fiction!
Galley borrowed from the publisher.
December 6, 2019
I appreciate receiving an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Penguin in exchange for an honest review.
So, I'll be honest - I got about 90 pages in before giving up. The writing is wooden and dull. Since she had very little in the way of documents or letters to use as the basis of the story, the author just let her imagination run wild with innuendo and supposition. I couldn't take it any more.
So, I'll be honest - I got about 90 pages in before giving up. The writing is wooden and dull. Since she had very little in the way of documents or letters to use as the basis of the story, the author just let her imagination run wild with innuendo and supposition. I couldn't take it any more.
June 9, 2020
This is a fictionalized account of the life of Grace Kelly, actress and later, Princess of Monaco. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Grace's acting career and her meeting and courtship with Prince Rainier of Monaco. There was some fast-forwarding to the time when they had two young children, and then another flash-forward to well after she had her third child. She had some regret about her decision to leave her acting career behind at the start of her marriage but later had an opportunity to re-enter the spotlight which gave Prince Rainier mixed feelings. Her questions about Prince Rainier and whether or not she should remain married to him were interesting to read: not all is a fairytale in the world of royalty...
I always enjoy reading about Hollywood-style glamour (such as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo). I would have liked to read more about their wedding day, since it was such an historical moment.
The ending felt a bit rushed, but I think it was because I so enjoyed reading this book and did not want it to end.
I always enjoy reading about Hollywood-style glamour (such as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo). I would have liked to read more about their wedding day, since it was such an historical moment.
The ending felt a bit rushed, but I think it was because I so enjoyed reading this book and did not want it to end.
March 4, 2020
DNF @ 15%
This book is moving way too slow for me and because of that I am having to put this one aside.
Thank you to Penguin Publishing for my ARC via Edelweiss
This book is moving way too slow for me and because of that I am having to put this one aside.
Thank you to Penguin Publishing for my ARC via Edelweiss
January 2, 2020
Having been fascinated by royals since I was a kid, I was pleased to have the chance to read "The Girl In The White Gloves." Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House, for the advanced reading copy, provided in exchange for this honest review. (It is my first, and perhaps they will not send me any more as I am actually honest and tend not to sugarcoat things)
I wanted to love it. I'm a big believer in "the willing suspension of disbelief" and you have to be in order to read fictionalized accounts of the lives of real people. But this one pushed a little too hard trying to create Grace Kelly's world(s) and conflicts. She is painted as always being torn-and her struggle being so literally portrayed in so many different ways got tiring. Two conflicts within her pre-Monaco life were explored by the author: the Kelly family vs. acting-as-legitimate-career, and then also stage vs screen. There were very literal descriptions of pained choices about assorted men, movie roles, whether to furnish her apartment, whether to buy an apartment in Los Angeles...they went on and on. This whole tortured/ torn between worlds (black sheep of the family, up-and-coming model striving in NY, glam movie star, humble movie star at home, princess, so many worlds!) shtick got old. Also, what was presented as her inner dialogue, seemed designed for public view, the recollections of specific hotels and restaurants meant to show off the author's command of 1950s New York/Hollywood rather than to illustrate what any of it meant to Grace Kelly.
I found the interactions with Princess Diana in particular to be too much in terms of "imagining" what effect Princess Grace might have had on younger royals. Her relationships in general seemed off to me somehow until I read that the author had started in YA which explained why everything was so spelled out for the reader, with nothing left to our imagination (including the final scene which was ridiculous and bordered on bad taste.) But for a YA audience, everything must be explained. The struggles can't just be described as an experience, they must be bracketed with the heroine exclaiming "Oh! What a struggle!" For someone accustomed to reading fiction that expects more from its readers, this is too much. Some connections are best made by readers following tiny breadcrumbs rather than listening to Siri announce the whole route.
All that said, a princess is a princess, and there's a certain pleasure in peeking inside her life. So as long as you look at the book as kind of a fluffy read, it makes for a fun afternoon.
I wanted to love it. I'm a big believer in "the willing suspension of disbelief" and you have to be in order to read fictionalized accounts of the lives of real people. But this one pushed a little too hard trying to create Grace Kelly's world(s) and conflicts. She is painted as always being torn-and her struggle being so literally portrayed in so many different ways got tiring. Two conflicts within her pre-Monaco life were explored by the author: the Kelly family vs. acting-as-legitimate-career, and then also stage vs screen. There were very literal descriptions of pained choices about assorted men, movie roles, whether to furnish her apartment, whether to buy an apartment in Los Angeles...they went on and on. This whole tortured/ torn between worlds (black sheep of the family, up-and-coming model striving in NY, glam movie star, humble movie star at home, princess, so many worlds!) shtick got old. Also, what was presented as her inner dialogue, seemed designed for public view, the recollections of specific hotels and restaurants meant to show off the author's command of 1950s New York/Hollywood rather than to illustrate what any of it meant to Grace Kelly.
I found the interactions with Princess Diana in particular to be too much in terms of "imagining" what effect Princess Grace might have had on younger royals. Her relationships in general seemed off to me somehow until I read that the author had started in YA which explained why everything was so spelled out for the reader, with nothing left to our imagination (including the final scene which was ridiculous and bordered on bad taste.) But for a YA audience, everything must be explained. The struggles can't just be described as an experience, they must be bracketed with the heroine exclaiming "Oh! What a struggle!" For someone accustomed to reading fiction that expects more from its readers, this is too much. Some connections are best made by readers following tiny breadcrumbs rather than listening to Siri announce the whole route.
All that said, a princess is a princess, and there's a certain pleasure in peeking inside her life. So as long as you look at the book as kind of a fluffy read, it makes for a fun afternoon.
February 27, 2020
"The Girl in the White Gloves" is a historical fiction look at Grace Kelly's life. Girl from Philadelphia, golden goddess of the silver screen, and princess - she was all three of these things and so much more. The epitome of charm and grace (could she have been named any more perfectly???), she turned heads no matter where she went. This book goes behind the taglines to show us a woman trying to figure out who she wants to be. This book shows that even fairy tales can have some very dark corners and even things that seem perfect, often are not.
Grace Kelly has always been fascinating to me. I LOVE "Rear Window" and that was really my first introduction to her! I'm also super fascinated by any and all royalty. Between these two things, Grace really drew me in. I loved how this book gave another side to Grace's story and allowed me as a reader to step into her shoes and see what she might have been going through behind the scenes. Maher creates such a realistic picture of a well-known figure. We see Grace's rise to stardom and grappling with what it would mean to give acting up forever for love. We see how even a princess's life is not always without its thorns. I feel like I really got to know Grace through this book.
Maher's writing is great here. Throughout the book, we see a lot of different kinds of yearning (oh, such a human emotion) from Grace. She wants to be famous. Then she wants love. Towards the end of the book, there is a really poignant scene where she is comforting a young Princess Diana (really one of my very favorites) while at the same time reflecting on her life and grappling with getting older. For those that already love Grace Kelly and those who haven't had the pleasure to know her, this book is a terrific pick!
Grace Kelly has always been fascinating to me. I LOVE "Rear Window" and that was really my first introduction to her! I'm also super fascinated by any and all royalty. Between these two things, Grace really drew me in. I loved how this book gave another side to Grace's story and allowed me as a reader to step into her shoes and see what she might have been going through behind the scenes. Maher creates such a realistic picture of a well-known figure. We see Grace's rise to stardom and grappling with what it would mean to give acting up forever for love. We see how even a princess's life is not always without its thorns. I feel like I really got to know Grace through this book.
Maher's writing is great here. Throughout the book, we see a lot of different kinds of yearning (oh, such a human emotion) from Grace. She wants to be famous. Then she wants love. Towards the end of the book, there is a really poignant scene where she is comforting a young Princess Diana (really one of my very favorites) while at the same time reflecting on her life and grappling with getting older. For those that already love Grace Kelly and those who haven't had the pleasure to know her, this book is a terrific pick!
October 15, 2020
"Mother, wife, princess...they were all roles, even if she hadn't fully digested the script when she accepted the part."
This fictionalized account of Grace Kelly, Hollywood icon and Monaco's Princess, is entertaining and informative while also acknowledging the liberties the author admits taking with Grace's life and times. Since we all live two-faced lives -- the one inside and the one the world sees -- it's always hard to know exactly what someone was thinking and feeling at a particular time. I always take any type of account or story of a person with a grain of salt. That said, this novel gives readers a glimpse into scenes that encompassed 33 years of Grace's life both as an actress and then as the wife of Prince Rainier. This was a different time and certainly a different world to now, but many of the themes of the ambitious woman who wants a successful career along with motherhood are addressed.
Frankly, what I felt for Grace Kelly -- other than admiration for her talent and drive -- was sympathy. At the brink of superstardom, she marries her prince but basically loses herself. It takes years before she starts carving a new niche for herself in the 1950s when women were still very much under the thumb of society thinking men were in charge. Grace gave up so much to be married to Prince Rainier and her life was not the fairy tale it must have seemed to all who watched her on the world stage.
I enjoyed reading this well-researched novelization that provides insight into this American film actress and now I have the strong urge to go look up and see the films as I think I'll view them in a different light now.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for this E-book ARC to read and review.
This fictionalized account of Grace Kelly, Hollywood icon and Monaco's Princess, is entertaining and informative while also acknowledging the liberties the author admits taking with Grace's life and times. Since we all live two-faced lives -- the one inside and the one the world sees -- it's always hard to know exactly what someone was thinking and feeling at a particular time. I always take any type of account or story of a person with a grain of salt. That said, this novel gives readers a glimpse into scenes that encompassed 33 years of Grace's life both as an actress and then as the wife of Prince Rainier. This was a different time and certainly a different world to now, but many of the themes of the ambitious woman who wants a successful career along with motherhood are addressed.
Frankly, what I felt for Grace Kelly -- other than admiration for her talent and drive -- was sympathy. At the brink of superstardom, she marries her prince but basically loses herself. It takes years before she starts carving a new niche for herself in the 1950s when women were still very much under the thumb of society thinking men were in charge. Grace gave up so much to be married to Prince Rainier and her life was not the fairy tale it must have seemed to all who watched her on the world stage.
I enjoyed reading this well-researched novelization that provides insight into this American film actress and now I have the strong urge to go look up and see the films as I think I'll view them in a different light now.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for this E-book ARC to read and review.
March 17, 2021
This is an historical novel about Grace Kelly from her start in the theater through her marriage to Ranier of Monaco. The book shows, in literary form, just how insecure and anxious for approval she was, even as she chafed against the expectations of first her family and then her rather stuffy husband. A sad story with an even sadder end.
December 8, 2021
In this book of fiction, Grace Kelly was generally unhappy with her parents, siblings, husband and children. She was happy being with some co-actors and unhappy being with others. She resented the marriage contract with Prince Rainier and the constraints it made on her life and acting career. The bad thing is she knew where she would stand going into the marriage. She had a choice of being happy or being miserable. Perhaps she intended on 'changing' him to her liking. Changing a spouse is pie in the sky thinking. She loved acting but doomed her only love by marrying a Prince. Dear author, let this character settle her mind and peacefully accept the consequences of her actions. Had the author made Grace`s love for acting secondary to love for husband, children and Court life, the book would have been better. I thought if Grace only got a yen for acting every now and then, her life would have been happier. This author did not give me that choice.
The second tier of my discontent with this book is the author's lack of knowledge about Princess Grace. It seems there was and remains little written information about Princess Grace so the author made up the story based on little to no reliable sources. Perhaps I missed a factual source. If so, I apologize. By analogy, look to Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Some books report that she was deeply in love with Ari. Other authors make a mockery of their marriage. Look to Edward and Wallis Simpson. He gave up a crown to marry her so in love were they. The last book I read about them, she was not and never had been head over heels for him. Look at Charles and Dianna. Some wrote about their love story, others wrote about the love that never was. Maybe the present author picked up on a general feeling about Grace and Rainier, and feelings are hard to document.
Again, I am not pleased with the make believe Princess Grace, and I do not know how reliable the author's sources are about the real Grace. I do like the author's candor in admitting there was not much to go on.
Thank you, Ms. Maher, for the read.
The second tier of my discontent with this book is the author's lack of knowledge about Princess Grace. It seems there was and remains little written information about Princess Grace so the author made up the story based on little to no reliable sources. Perhaps I missed a factual source. If so, I apologize. By analogy, look to Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Some books report that she was deeply in love with Ari. Other authors make a mockery of their marriage. Look to Edward and Wallis Simpson. He gave up a crown to marry her so in love were they. The last book I read about them, she was not and never had been head over heels for him. Look at Charles and Dianna. Some wrote about their love story, others wrote about the love that never was. Maybe the present author picked up on a general feeling about Grace and Rainier, and feelings are hard to document.
Again, I am not pleased with the make believe Princess Grace, and I do not know how reliable the author's sources are about the real Grace. I do like the author's candor in admitting there was not much to go on.
Thank you, Ms. Maher, for the read.
March 3, 2020
Grace Kelly comes for an affluent family in Philadelphia, but unlike some of her Main Line counterparts, her father's family comes from Irish immigrants and Jack Kelly has made a name for himself in bricklaying and construction; in fact, he's a millionaire Even though some high society circles don't fully accept the Kellys, they are still an incredible family destined for greatness if Grace's father, a former Olympian, has anything to say about it. As Grace gets older, she leaves behind her family's tight grip on her and follows her dream to New York City and then Hollywood to become an actress, but things aren't always easy for her. All the while, she is always trying to impress her parents and seek their approval deep down inside. Readers are taken on a wild ride of the ins and outs of the movie business, contracts, Hollywood's starlets, and all of her love interests. Things really pick up for Grace when Alfred Hitchcock starts to cast her in his movies and then her love life becomes the forefront of it all when she meets the Prince of Monaco. The Girl in White Gloves by Kerri Maher will tug on your heartstrings and fans of Grace Kelly, as well as stories about Royals, will especially enjoy this fictional biography.
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
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