Jackie and Me
Jackie and Me by Louis Bayard, published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill on June 13, 2023, is a historical fiction novel that explores the early life of Jacqueline Bouvier as she navigates her burgeoning relationship with congressman Jack Kennedy. Set in 1951, the narrative follows Jackie as she balances her career as the Inquiring Camera Girl for a Washington newspaper with her growing attraction to Jack, leading her to question her aspirations and the implications of a life intertwined with his.
Readers will find a rich portrayal of the complexities surrounding Jackie and Jack’s courtship, as well as the unique perspective of Lem Billings, Jack’s best friend, who becomes an integral part of their story. The novel delves into themes of friendship, love, and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of happiness, offering a nuanced look at Jackie before she became a public figure. With 368 pages, this edition presents a fresh take on two iconic American figures, blending romance and historical context in a compelling narrative.
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“ABSOLUTELY IRRESISTIBLE.” —People (Best Books of Summer)
One of The Washington Post‘s 50 Notable Works of Fiction for 2022
In 1951, former debutante Jacqueline Bouvier is hard at work as the Inquiring Camera Girl for a Washington newspaper. Her mission in life is “not to be a housewife,” but when she meets the charismatic congressman Jack Kennedy at a Georgetown party, her resolution begins to falter. Soon the two are flirting over secret phone calls, cocktails, and dinner dates, and Jackie is drawn deeper into the Kennedy orbit. As Jack himself grows increasingly elusive and absent, she begins to question what life at his side would mean. For answers, she turns to his best friend and confidant, Lem Billings, a closeted gay man who has made the Kennedy family his own, and who has been instructed by them to seal the deal with Jack’s new girl. But as he gets to know her, a deep and touching friendship emerges, leaving him with a true dilemma: Is this the marriage she deserves?
Narrated by an older Lem as he looks back at his own role in a complicated alliance, this is a courtship story full of longing and suspense, of what-ifs and possible wrong turns. It is a surprising look at Jackie before she was that Jackie. And in bestselling author Louis Bayard’s witty and deeply empathetic telling, Jackie & Me is a page turning story of friendship, love, sacrifice, and betrayal–and a fresh take on two iconic American figures.
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