The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher, introduces Kathleen, fourth of nine children in the Kennedy clan. Presented to London society in the spring of 1938, Kathleen won over the chilly British with her sunny smile and enthusiasm. The Kennedy Debutante was a smashing success. She loved London, and loved the friends she made during her father’s tenure as British ambassador from 1938-1940.

The legend of Joe Kennedy’s male children is a well-known part of American history. The Kennedy men each pursued the dream of service, leadership, and excellence Joe Kennedy encouraged. Joe Jr. was supposed to be president, but was killed in WWII. Those dreams were transferred to John F. Kennedy, who was elected and then assassinated. Robert Kennedy was next in line, assassinated during his bid for the presidency. Teddy Kennedy’s reputation never overcame the Chappaquiddick incident entirely, but he served his state with distinction for years.

The  lives of the Kennedy daughters, while just as fascinating, have been less explored. In this historical fiction, Kerri Maher introduces us to Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, one of the five Kennedy daughters, and provides a view of the life of a Kennedy female. This lively story follows Kick from the time of her father’s ambassadorship in England in 1940 through her marriage to Billy and his subsequent death in WWII.

Kathleen Kennedy Debutante

 

Kathleen, or Kick as she was known, was not considered a true beauty. Nevertheless, she was gregarious and charming enough to be deemed the debutante of the year in 1939 London. The author provides a glimpse of life for the upper crust British society, while the Hitler looms in the background. Kathleen not only falls in love with bustling, vibrant London, she meets Billy Cavendish early on and is smitten. They attend parties, jazz club outings, county hunt weekends at posh family estates, all while becoming better acquainted. Mind you, dating then was not as dating is now. There were always groups of people, and married couples would accompany on these outings as chaperones. The girls all knew to watch out for the young bucks labeled N-SIT (not safe in taxis).

Kathleen was a devoted Catholic, and her growing love for Billy  presented an almost insurmountable problem with both their families due to religion. The question of marriage out of faith is a central problem throughout the story. Kathleen researches her options in regards to marrying an Anglican, illustrating her determination, love and stubbornness. Her parents are adamant that she should marry a nice, Irish Catholic American boy. Kick ultimately follows the path of her own choosing.

 

Billy Cavendish

 

Billy, or Major William John Robert “Billy” Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, as he was formally known, falls just as hard for Kick as she does for him. Throughout this love story he remains an unflappable “good chap.” At one point during their 5 year on and off again courtship, while separated by the war, he becomes engaged to another woman. He breaks it off quickly when he realizes his still strong feelings for Kick. They reunite in May of 1944 when Kick defiantly travels back to England from the US, A quiet civil marriage takes place and  the couple enjoys five wedded weeks together. Then, Billy returns to the front lines of the war, and Kick returns to the US to wait for him. Sadly, Billy dies in battle four months later.

 

The Kennedy Family

 

The other Kennedy children are not significant characters to the story line, However, Kathleen did spend time with her older two brothers in England and the US. Joe Jr and John both travelled with Kick in the same social circles. Interestingly, both brothers provide relationship advice while involved in their own tangled situations. The most intriguing sibling is Rosemary, who exhibits signs of an emotional or mental disorder. She and Kathleen are close, but Rosemary’s behaviour becomes increasingly erratic. Joe Kennedy arranges a medical treatment with tragic results, and Rosemary disappears from the family.

Kathleen’s relationship with her parents becomes rocky as she asserts her own will regarding marriage. Joe considers Kick to be his favorite daughter, and appears accepting of her decision. The author portrays Rose Kennedy as a stereotypical wealthy mother, whose ambitions ride on the marriage choices of daughters, not on the life a daughter crafts for herself. Each parent deals with Kick’s defiance differently, but family ties are not severed.

Opinion

 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and especially appreciated the notes relating to the author’s research. Historical fiction does not generally employ footnotes and research notes. However, Kerri Maher does detail some of her research as well as differentiating between actual living characters and those she added for narrative purposes. The Kennedy family saga is fascinating, and the story of Kick’s life adds one more layer of intrigue and tragedy. This lesser known Kennedy has received the literary treatment she deserves for her own life story. The narrative ends with Kick returning to London for good. Be sure to read the Author’s Note to learn about Kick’s years after the war.

 

Many thank yous to NetGalley for the ARC download provided in exchange for this unbiased review. The Publication date for The Kennedy Debutante is October 2, 2018. Available for preorder here.